Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1883-06-27
PRISON TO PALACE.
Remarkable Career OF a Burglar
Lawyer and Spectator.
A Victim Of Circumstance" Once a
Prison Inmate Now. the Wealthy
Husband Of the Keepers
Daughter.

HoYEsDALE, Pa, June 2G.-Wsyne county
has character who casts Victor liugo's
Jean Vatican into the shade, for while
one reformed in good earnest, the Wayne
county man tiuctuatcs between deeds OF
Chivalry and acts OF business. HIS name
is George Avery, and at present he is liv.
ing in one of the Western States. In 1870,
when Avery was only twenty one years
DID, he was charged with the murder Of
John Haynes, OF Rolands, Pike county.
He was arrested, and an officer detailed to
bring him to Milford.
Evidence Of the NJ urder
wa, said to he SO conclusive that he could
tot possibly escape hanging
On their way to Milford, where the coun.
~ prison was located. the officer imbibed
,rer,y OF liquor and became hclplessly
drunk. Avery secured the keys which un.
locked the handouts and shaCKles Dy which
le was hound, and removed the manacles
placing them in tae bottom Cf the wagon.
lie took The reiOs from the stupidity drunk.
tn officer hsnds. snd drove TO the nearest
hotel. where he arrived with the officer III
charge at late hour. He put the drunken
man to bed, reused him the next morring,
got him in the wagon drove on 10 Milford,
when, after he had put the officer in bed
at the hotel. he walked up to the jail and
delivered himself up TO the keeper. telling
him about his
Experience with the Constable.
He was confined TIL September-this was
in June-when he was tried for murder,
and. in spite. OF overwhelming proof, was
acquitted, TO the surprise OF everybody.
the court most OF oil. The day after he
was discharged from custody be was ar
rested, charged with burglary. convicted
and sent to State Prison for year and q
half. He served the full term, reading law
during his confinement. When he left
the Eastern Psnitentisry, at Philadelphis,
he returned home. opened q law office, ar.
rested several citizens who had testified
against him when ne was on trial for bur
gIary, charging them with perjury. Fail.
ing TO make oIt his case. he was sentenoed
TO pay the costs. He had no money, 90 he
went 10 Jail again, where he remained until
his friends could scrspe up enough money
10 get him out.
When. finally, be became free man
again, he
Returned 10 His OIA Home
al Roylsrds From that time forward
burglaries were numerous about there, bat
never could evidence sufficient 10 convict
Avery be obtlined. A year or 70 later he
went TO oil City, IA, where be hnDg out
his sign as LAWYER. Clients were plenty
and tees large. Avery was YeapiDg gold
en- harvest. when he was onyicted Of f0fs
gery and sent to the Western Peniteniary
for four years and eleven months. While
there be fell in love with ops OF the Keep
era daughters, and she offered 70 ssaist
Him 10 escape, but he refused 10 leave un.
~ his time was out. At the end Of ths
term be went back 10 Roviants, soon alter
ward professed religion, began Ireachine 0
liuls, syindled o neigbbof out OF $ifo,
and vss induced by the nsxhbos, who
enforced argument With o.g ahot-&in,
RefuuA the Mssey.
Aver then left for LuEerne oogpty, where
be cot into difficulty and rz, sent 70 the
Eastern Penitentiary for . shors term.
| pop his release he stole enough mock 20
take him 10 the mining regions of the
W.st, where, under an assumed mans. be
opened a Law Office and specuistedin stscks
| In 1892 be struck il ricb. cieaAd $1ao,VD
gave up stocks ut once, ip vested his money
| In Government bonds, Eent foS bis f1ancee
| the prison keepers daughter, Whe jo,A.t
| him in Chicago, where they wEre married.
| Avery 10 only thirty yfou1 years old. Hi
| never touched liquor. never samb.ed no
used tobacco, and ciaimA 10 havs been u
"viciim OF circumstancsS" He writse o
friends near here that he is leading An bon
| est. upright life, and that when be come
Fast Il will be n . United States Senate
from one OF the Western States.