The Portland daily press., 1873-07-01
Wagner's Account Of Himself.
Is BE AN IDIOT?

The following is Wagner's account of his es-
cape and recapture:
On Wednesday might the watchmen came
and looked into my cell at $50 p. M Saw the
dummy and thought it was me. L. was hidden
IN the corne. They said, HE is.all quiet. -
thought, mot much, my friends" They
then went into the office. As soon as they I'M
locked the Office door 1 unlocked my cell door
and climbed up on the railing to the tier above.
lit a match and saw the scuttle. Just as 1
got through, the Waterman came in. I shut
the scuttle very softly, lit another match, and
gazed around. could easily reach the ventl-
ator and drew myself up aud got on the roof =
We had to walk very slow, as the thinning made
much noise We got down the skylight; knew
it was there. and had blankets tied together to
lower ourselves from the roof to the attic. Here
we lit another match, and found the stairs,
went by room where the inmates were snor-
ing loudly. went into the office and looked
into the Jail. 1 thought would wish the watch
good-by, but did not. | made my escape
through the door in the kitchen, not from the
front of the house. The other chaps were out
side.
We walked together down by the court house
and struck the railroad. We went to Spring
vale and got drink of water near klbbets Ho-
TEL and then went on to East Rochester. The
other two left me at Springvale / laid in the
road at night; did not dare to go into the bush.
es as 1 was afraid of wild animals. came
near getting run over by team once went
through Rochester village at a. M, in the
evening, Several persons spoke to me but none
looked suspicious Went by day and night and
had no fear of being taken. l went to farm
house in Pennington, N. H., and asked for
some food Had eaten nothing but berries
since my escape and was very nungry. 1 tri ed
to milk COW in my hat, but she would not
stand. ate what farmer gave me and turn
ed to leave. Looking behind l saw the farmer
and three men following me walked very
slowly, for was tired. They came up to me
and said prisoners had escaped from Alfred and
asked me if was one. l said nothing They
then raised pole to strike me. 1 said, "don't
you strike me, if you do you will be sorry. If
you be hard up and want few dollars you can
take me- / am Wagner from Alfred Jail
They were all frightened.
made no resistance. Then they all got very
brave and came up. Took off my coat and
had collected about % farmers. They were all
scared. They took me to the village and gave
me plenty to eat, and kept me in little wood
en- hogse over Sunday. Had good ride this
morning. l only went to exercise my limbs. !
did not know as 1 conld use them after being
confined so long, and had trouble in doing So
| also wanted to see the pretty girls whom l
flirted with at the trial. l like pretty girls.
They like me. did not see many. I should
have come back Tuesday or Wednesday and
got in the same as | got out l was tired and
wanted a little vacation. 1 am satisfied for the
present. People don't think l am murderer
if they did they would not treat me so kindly.
They know / am innocent. l like Bennett, he
has treated me well. L hate Sheriff Warren.
He has used me bad When Tanner and
friends caught me they said they did not care
for the $500 reward and that ought to have it,
but think they fool me. I would like it to
pay the counsel. If Mr.. Bennett would let me
go out for an hour day l would like it. 1
would not run away. l did not wish to.
THE SpRINGvALE HOMICIDE, The coroner's
inquest in the case of Gerrish, whose body was
found last week, closed Saturday after taking
the following testimony:
Charles Frost testified to seeing Coffin and
Gerrlsh leave the formers house on the night
in question, at 10 :05 o'clock P. NJ Coffin had
cane; saw them go together an eighth of a mile;
left, fearing Coffin would set his dog on us; he
had done so on former occasions; did not men-
ton the affair.
John Carter saw both leave the house; was
not positive that Coffin bad cane
Hannah Coffin, aged thirteen, daughter of
Coffin, testified: Gerrish was at my hoEse
week ago Wednesday uight; he worked for fa-
Their that day; he ate dinner there, not supper;
came early in the evening; the other men were
then present; they were in the barn talking;
Gerrish remained fifteen minutes, and left
alone, father then took off his shoes; don't know
how long my parents sat up; father told Gerrish
to be sure and come to work in the morning;
father said nothing about Gerrishs non appear
arce in the morning; first heard of the murder
Saturday morning from father; the affair has
never been talked over in our family in my
presence; Mrs. Gerrish came to our house four
times to inquire for her husband: got no salts
faction.
Henry Rogers testified: Both drank cider in
my saloon Wednesday evening at 900; closed
at 9:55; saw both standing nearly opposite
at 10.
The Jury returned the following verdict:
THAT Martin l.. Gerrish came to his death by
violence between 10 o'clock Wednesday even
ing, June Is, and o'clock Saturday morning.
the 21st that his body was thrown into the
river to cover the deed, and they also find
that suspicion points decidedly to James NJ.
Coffin
Coffin is desperate character. A short
time since, in quarrel between Coffin and his
wife, his aged mother interposed and inter-
cepted blow which caused her death soon
after. Gerrish was present at that time, and
Coffin told him if he ever divulged the facts he
would murder him. As it is generally known,
Gerrsh must have done so. Coffin will not be
arrested unless further evidence is elected,
though the citizens as a body demand his ar
rest and also further investigation.