The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1881-07-23
A MOST REmARKABLELsFE.

SETTLING Down TO A STEADY LIFE AND
Fortune AFTER A CAREER or CRIME.
A special correspondent of the Philadel--
phia Times, writing from Honesdale, Pa,
says: The news has just been received
here OF the marriage Of George Avery in
one of the far Western States. The history
of this young man--at one time the most
notorious character in this section has
been quite as romantic as that of Hugo's
hero, Jean Vatican. In 1870 Avery, then
about 81 years of age, was charged with the
murder of John Hayes, of Rowlands, Pike
Co., Pa. lie was arrested and an officer de-
tailed to bring him to Milford. Evidence
Of the murder was reported to be conclusive
that he could not possibly escape hanging.
On their way TO Milford the officer mbibcd
freely of liquor, and finally got "blind
drunk" Avery secured the KEYS which
unlocked his handouts and took them Off,
lie took the reins from the stupidity drunk
en- officers hand and drove to the nearest
hotel, where he arrived with the officer I'M
charge at a late hour. He put the drunken
man in bed, reused him the next morning.
got him in the wagon, drove on to Milford,
the county seat Of Pike county, when, after
he had put the officer in bed at a hotel, he
went to the Jail and delivered himself up to
the keeper. He was confined there till
September, 1870, when he was tried for
murder, and, to the great surprise Of every
one, acquitted. Immediately after he was
discharged by the court he was arrested,
charged with burglary, convicted and sent
TO States prison for a year and half. He
served his term, reading law during his
confinement. When he left the Eastern
Penitentiary he returned homo, opened
law office, arrested several citizens vino had
testified against him when he was on trial
for burglary, charging them with perjury
and failing to make out his case was SEM
fenced 10 pay the costs. He had no money
so he went TO prison again, where he re-
mained till his friends could scrape up'
enough money to get him out. When A.
nally he became free man he returned To-
| his old home at Rowlands. From that
time forward burglaries were numerous in
that section, but never could evidence SUI
fcient to convict Avery be obtained. kNer
while the young man went to OIL city
Pa, and hung OUT his shingie as a lawyer.
Clients were plenty, and fees large Avery
was reaping golden harvest, when be was
con victed OF forgery, AMI sent to the Western
Peaitentiary at Allegheny City Tor four
years and eleven months. While there he
fell in love with the keepers daughter, and
she proposed to assist him to escape, but he
refused TO leave prison lill his time was out.
At the end OF his term he went 10 LaeIa-
waUen; soon after profesaed religions SWIM
died a neighbor out Of 500, and was induo-
ed by the neighbor, who enforced his argu-
ments with Il shotgun, to refund the. mon
ey. He then went to Luzerne county +,
where ~ got into difficulty and went To-
the Eastern Penitentiary sgan for short
term. Upon beng released he went 10 the
mining regions Of the west, where he open-
ed law Office and speeulated in stocks. A
few weeks ago Ire "struek il rish," aud
cleared over half million dollars, gave mn
his stock speculation forever, sent for his e.
nancee the prison keepers iair daughter,
who went west, and they have been mar
rid. Avery is only about thirty. two years
Of age and writes to friends here that he is
now an honest, upright man, aud that the
next time he comes east it will be as a Uni-
ted States Senator from one Of the Western
StatesS