Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1876-03-29


and 1t was by this-means that Tim Handlin sus-
pected what was up Tim was i'll when he first
made the discovery OF the keys, and stayed in his
cell all day Having communicated with Super
intcndent Bailey, he icgned sickness by advice,
and having disclosed to the Iialeys that he knew
their doings and sympathized with them, was
taken into their entire confidence; meanwhile the
strctest guard was kept at the prison, but it was
deemed best 10 allow the afIair to come to a head.
in order to catch if possible the outsiders who
were supposed to be in IT,
UNAVOIDABLE rosTrnNrMtNr
Lying under the snow near one Of the walls,
all winter we're lot Of plank and some rough
ladders used upon the new wing Of the prison
last fall. One ofthese ladders had been selected
by Miles as the means by which he should scale
the walls. Last Wednesday, it will be remembered.
WAS a thawy day, and the yard being very slip
perry, Mr. Bailey ordered the planks 10 be laid
down for walks Iii, attention was called to the
ladders and thinking that they were altogether
too tempting in their situation, be- ordered them
removed. That they might have been selected
for the escape and all that evening a strange team
was waiting near the state prison for some pnr-
pose. Miles, learning Of the removal of the lad
ders gave the scheme up for the time His
method Of communication with Haley was by let
tiers, II being too suspicious 10 Se seen conyersng
with him. Both Otis and Nialvin, his brother be-
ing poor scholars, Ilandlin was asked To read
them, and through him Mr. bailey was kept
posted. Two Of the letters are in the possession
Of the authorities, but we are requested not to
make their contents public now. From them it
was learned that Miles was greatly chagrned over
his fasco Of Wednesday night, and that he would
renew the attempt saturday night unless
taken to Montpelier sooner A strong guard was
placed around the prison as soon as the scheme
was ascerained; but any appearance of the kind
was carefully avoided and every apparent facil-
its was given to Miles and his outside confeder-
ates 10 operate. In the letters the proposed
method Of escaping was fully detailed. The in
mates are locked in their cells as soon as they
come into supper. At eight o'clock the bell rings
for lights ont, and Immediately after, the night
Waterman trverses the three tiers Of galleries
which surround the inner prison, aud tries every
door TO see that it is secure The hall boys are
not locked in till after the Waterman has gone the
grand rounds, and the time determined upon
for the escape was when the Waterman was upon
the third tier a. stated above. Miles and Haley
both occupied cells on the ground floor. Miles
furnished the hoy with pack Of indecent playing
cards to beguie Godfrey's attention at the crit-
cal moment though it turned out that was not
needed, since Godfrey was sick during the week
Haley was to slip out of his cell unlock the pad
lock TO the bar and the lock to the door Of Miles
cell give Miles the key TO the door leading to the
yard and steal back to his cell Miles having
obtained access to the corridor anticipated
difficulty in reaching the yard and then the outer
world
THE CoSsP1RATORs CONFRONTED.
sheriff Lyford left Montpelier on Friday after
noon, with the writ authorizing him to receive
Miles from the state prison authorities, and in
company with one Of his deputies, Mr.. +. W.
Howe Of Mortified, arrived at the prison soon
after dark. They were Immediately informed Of
what was up, and ~ il WAS not far from eight
O'Clock, joined in the watch to see II the escape
would be attempted that night, although from the
tenor Of Miles letters 1t was hardly expected till
saturday. They were rewarded for their vigilance
by seeing Haley come from his cell when the
Waterman had got 10 the upper story, go 10 Miles
cell aud try the lock Having worked there a
little while. he appeared TO lose courage for some
reason, and went back To his own quarters with
out liberating Miles Sheriff Lyiord thought 1t
was time TO bring about q deHouemeat, and, after
a short delay Mr. Bailey, two sheriffs, and several
of the keepers went to lIaey's cell and demanded
the delivery Of the keys. lie appeared dumb
founded, but made no resistance. Thence they
went to Miles cell, and used Haley's keys to ef-
feet an entrance, aud asked Miles to step into the
though with an unhappy look, that showed he
suspected detection. \ search OF his person dis
closed nothing out of the way, but close inspec-
ton Of his mattrass resulted in the discovery Of
fine nickle-plated Smith 4 Wessou five chamber
revolver, all loaded the bullets being thiuy-two
one hundredths of an inch in diameter Miles
made no remarks but accepted the situation with
kind OF grim philosophy. lie came to Mont
peer on Saturday afternoon, and resumed his old
quarters in the jail.
The Haley boys belong in North POwnal, Hen
ning,on county, and were sentenced at the Ben
nington county court last December, to year
imprisonment for burglary. IIandlin belongs in
Montpelier, where he will be remembered as the
head Of youthful gang of burglars five years
ago His time is nearly out, and it is proposed Ia
ASH TIT bhNfAN'A lpi nv lstlhph A7 u itNhlh i'i
his fidelity. It is said that Tim Is now a sincere
Christian, and means to do right and lead an
honest life in the future Both he and otis Haley
were brought To this village on Tuesday morning,
TO be used In the Miles case, II necessary II IL
due To Haley to state that he now claims that in
stead Of working for Miles he WAS really working
against him, and that his disclosures TO Tim were
made with the object Of having the prison author
tiles know what was going on, Last "Wednesday,
the day the ladders were reHoyed from the yard,
both Mrs. Miles and the man Robbins visited
Miles, and left Windsor ON the mail train south,
Miles telegaphed Robbins at Springfield, toward
evening, TO come back at once, and on Thursday
he was again at Windsor.
MILES N COURT.
Miles was brought into court Tuesday after
noon, and his handouts having been taken on,
was seated within the bar between his counsel,
Messrs. C. j. Gleason and Henry X Field. lie
was well, though plainly dressed in a sack suit of
heavy brown mixture which displayed his athletic
form TO advantage. He has grown fat since last
fall aud the goatee which then decorated his chin
has expanded into full beard. lie had evidently
given considerable attention to his personal sp-
poamnce; his thick, black hair was carefully ar
ranged. aud bis keen and full eyes bore the curl
Gus scrutiny OF the multitude with great nonehal-
anee. The court house contained the largest
crowd which has been within its walls since Bar-
ton, apparently In the last stages of consumption
was brought in upon lounge to receive his SEN
tence for breaking into the Waterbury bank The
gallery was filled with ladies, and will be reserved
for the fair sex during the trial. The army Of
witnesses for the prosecution, headed by the bury
figure and handsome, good-natured "phiz" Of
Detectiye WIggin. sat together In the northwest