Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1883-10-12
FROM A JAIL TO A FORTUNE

The Remarkable Career of an En-
Convict VINO Has Grown Rich-Mar-
rNinG the Daughter of One of His
Former Prison Keepers and Declaring
That He VIII Become "A United states
senator.
HoHe,5ab Pa SptciJ' to N. y. Sun. Oct E.
Wayne county, Pa, has a character with
an eVenttul history. His name is George
Avery. and at present he is in one of the
Western states. In 1870. when Avery
was only u years old, he was charged
with the murder Of John Haynes, of
Ruwlauds, Pike county. He was arrest
ed. The evidence against him was said
10 bc 50 conclusive that he could not cs-
cape hanging.
While ON the way to Milford. where the
county prison was located, in charge of a
Deputy Sheriff, the official imbibed freely
and became helplessly drunk. Avery Sc
cured the mans KEYS, and, unlocking his
handouts, he placed them i'm the bottom
of the wagon. He took the reins from the
officials hands and drove To the nearest
hotel, where he arrived at Il late hour.
He put TIE drunken man to bed. reused
him the next morning, drove on to Mil
ford. and after he had put the deputy to
bed at the hotel. he walked mp to the Jail
and delivered himself up to the keeper,
telling about his experience.
Three months later he was tried for
murder. aIid. in spite of overwhelming
proof against him, was acquitted The
day after hc was discharged from custody
lac was arrested charged with burglary,
convicted. and sent 10 State prison for
eighteen months. lie served the full
term, reading law during his confinement.
When be left the Eastern Penitentiary at
Philadelphia he returned home. opened Il
law Office. and had several citizens ar
rested who had testified against him
when he was on trial for burglary, charg-
ing them with perjury. Failing to make
uut his case. he was sentenced to pay the
costs.
lie had no money, SO he went to Jail
again, where he remained until his
friends could scrape up enough money to
get him out. Finally, he became a free
man again. and returned to his old home
at Row lands.
From that time bUrglaries were numer-
Gus about there. but there was never cVi-
dence enough 10 convict Avery. 4 year
or SO later ne went TO Oil city. where he
hung out his shingle as a lawyer. Clients
were numerous and fees were large.
Avery was reapnga golden harvest when
he was convicted of forgery and sent to
the Western Penitentiary for I years and
II months. While there he fell i'm love
with the daughter Of one Of the prison
keepers. and She offered 10 assist him to
escape. but he refused to leave until his
time was out. At the end of the term he
went back to Rowlands, soon afterward
profesSed religion, began preaching a
little. swindled a neighbor out of 500, and
was induced 10y the neighbOr, who en-
forced his argument with shotgun, to
refund the money.
Avery then left for LuZerne county,
where he got into difficulty and was sent
to the Eastern Penitentiary for a short
term. Upon his release he stole enough
money to take him to the mining regions
Of the far West, where under an assumed
name. he opened law office and specula-
ted in stocks.
In ISS2 he struck it rich, cleared $780,
900, gave up stocks, invested his money in
government Island sent for his fancee.
the prison Keepers daughter, who Joined
him in Chicago. where they were married
Avery is only 81 years old. He never
touched liquor, never gambled nor used
tobacco, and claims TO have been a victim
OF circumstances. He writes to friends
near here that he is leading an honest. up
right life, and that when he comes East il
VIII be as a United states Senator from
one of the Western States.