The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1873-07-03
Escape of Wagner from Jail.

escape OF wagner from Jail.
Special Despatch to Argus.
Louis H. Wagner, convicted at the late
term ut the Supreme Court OF the murder
ui Anethe Christensen al Smutty Nose
island, made his escape. with two others.
from Jail last night
WagnerS cell is on the second floor OF
tbe prison, and he made his escape by
- NC through the scuttle from the third
floor OF the prison to the attic; from
thence mp through the ventilator to the
roof; from thence to the house and down
he shylight to the attic, and thence down
the hall and ont of the front door of the
iallOrs house.
The names of the other two prisoners
who escaped with him are William Nc
Carly and Charles Harrington, who were
bound over and committed for breaking
and entering the store of Charles L.
Dresser at kennebunk.
No clue has yet been ascertained Of
Wagner's probable whereabouts, nor is
the Argus reporter advised at this hour
(three p. M of any efforts being made
for his recapture.
What makes the escape more daring,
is the fact that two men had been engaged
10 patrol in front of his cell during the
night, and were at their posts. About
nine O'Clock one of the watchmen re-
marked that Wagner was keeping con-
founded quiet, and looking in apparently
@aw Wagner lying on his bed About
three O'Clock this morning they again
looked in, and saw the body on the bed
retaining the same position. Fearing that
ne might be dead they entered the cell,
and instead of Wagner found broom
sick, dressed up in q suit of Wagner's
clothes. In short space of time it began
To dawn upon them that Wagner had
escaped, and later developments revealed
the tact that two others had gone with
him.
The escaped prisoners had taken the
precaution to have a good meal before
they started, so they broke into the pantry,
ate a lunch, and took the remainder of
he food with them.
Nothing is yet known Of the method 0
the escape Of the other prisoners, although
II must have been Il very easy matter, for
as Wagner previously remarked, ''the
locks could be picked with a straw"
blankets torn into shreds We're found in
the building, but the men had not found
Il necessary TO use them.
The Jail from which Wagner escaped
was recently erected at a cost of some
forty thousand dollars, the locks of which
have been known to the county COM
mssioners for several weeks to be entirely
worthless
Wagner Arrested.
PORTLAND, %. Louis H. F. Wagner
was arrested 10y farmer in Pennington
Me, about thirty miles from Alfred be-
tween four and five o'clock Saturday
afternoon. He called at the house of Mr..
w. II. Tanner and asked for something
10 eat, saying he had eaten nothing for
several days but a few plums and berries
which he found in the woods. He was
foot-sore and weary. While he was eat
ing his supper, Tanner suspected his
identity and went out and called some
neighbors to assist in capturing him.
When he returned Wagner had finished
eating and started off into the woods
again but was pursued and captured He
made but slight resistance and said he
had been tempted two or three times to
return to Alfred Jail. He was Immediately
taken to Pennington and delivered into
the custody of the Sheriff of STAFFORD
county who put him in irons and he will
be taken to Alfred Monday morning.
Wagner states that Mccarthy and Har-
nngton who escaped with him had sep
arated from him but a short time before.
The following is Wagner's account Of
his escape and recapture:
On Wednesday night the watchmen
came and looked into my cell at 9 80 p
IN. saw the dummy and thought it was
me. | was hidden in the corner. They
said, He Is all quiet" l thought, mo
much, my friends" They then went into
the office. AS soon as they unlocked the
office door ! unlocked my cell door anG
climbed up on the railing tc the tier above
lit match and saw the scutte. Jus
AZ | got through, the Waterman came in
shut the scuttle very softly, lit another
match, and gazed around. / could easily
reach the ventilator, and drew myself III
and got on the roof. We had to wall
very slow as the timing made much noise
We got down the skylight; knew it wa
there, and had blankets tied together L
lower ourselves from the roof to the attic
Here we lit another match, and found tn,
stars, went by room where the inmates
were snoring loudly. l went into tn,
office and looked into the JAIL though
would wish the watch goodbye, Blu
did not. | made my escape through tn
door in the kitchen, and not from th
front of the house. The other chaps wer
outside.
We walked together down by the cour
house and struck the railroad. We wen
10 Springvale and got drink OF waite
near Kibbet's Hotel, and then went on t
East Rochester. The other two lett m
at Springvale. land in the road at night
did not dare to 60 into the bushes as
was afraid OF wild animals. came nea
getting run over by team once. wen
through Rochester village at Up. M, i
the evening. Several persons spoke t
me but none looked suspicious. Went b
day and night and had no fears of bein
taken. | went to farm house in Farm
ington, N. H., and asked for some food
Had eaten nothing but berries since m
escape and was very hungry. / tried t
milk COW in my hat, but she woul
not stand. l ate what farmer gave IN
and turned to leave. Looking behind
saw the farmer and three men followin
me- | walked very slowly, for l wa
tired. They came up to me and sal
prisoners had escaped from Alfred, an
asked me if was one. l said nothing
They then raised pole to strike me.
said, "don't you strike me, if you do 20
will be sorry. II you be hard up an
want few dollars you can take me.
am Wagner from Alfred jail" The
were all frightened.
only went aWaV tn exercisp NV limbs