Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1883-06-28
FROM JAIL TO Wealth.
The Remarkable Career of a Burglar.
Lawyer and SpecuIator.
s'o York E0ening Telegrai

Ne0 York E0eRing Telegrans
Wayne county has character who
casts victor Augo's "Jean Valjean' into
the shade, for, while one reformed in good
earnest, the wayne county man fluctuates
| between deeds of chiValry and acts of
| baseness. His name is George Avery
and at present he is living in one of the
| western States. In 1870, when Avery
was only 21 years old, he was charged
| with the murder of John Haynes, of RO,
| lands, Pike county. He was arrested
and an officer detailed to bring him to
| Milford. Evidence of the murder was
said to be so conclusive that he could NOT
| possibly escape hanging.
! On their way TO Milford. where the
county prison was located, the officer i'm
bibed too freely of liquor and beoalne
! helplessly drunk. Avery secured the
keys which unlocked the handouts and
shackles by which he was bound. and re'
moved the manacles, placing them In the
| bottom OF the wagon, He took the reins
| from the stupidity drunken officers hands.
and drove to the nearest hotel, where he
| arrived with the officer in charge at a late
hour He put the drunken man to bed.
reused him next morning, got him in the
| wagon, drove on to Milford. when. after
ne had put the officer in bed at the hotel
| he walked to the Jail and delivered him
SELF up to the keeper, telling him about
MS experience with the con-
stable, He was confined till Septem-
her-thfs was in June-when he
was tried for murder, and in enffe
Of overwhelming proof, was ACQUITTED 10
the surprise of everybody, the court most
ol all. The day after be was discharged
from custody he was arrested, charged
with burglary, convicted and sent to
state prison for year and a half. He
served the full term, reading law during
MS connnement. w hen he left the Eastern
penltentlary at Philadelphia he returned
nome, opened law Office, arrested several
cltlzens who had testified against him
when he was on trial for burglary.
charging them with perjury. Failing to
make out his case he was sentenced to
pay the costs. He had no money. so he
went to Jail again, where he remained
until his friends could scrape up enough
money TO get him out.
When, finally, he became a free man
again, he returned to his old home AT
holands. From that time forward
DurSiarles were numerous about there
out never could evidence sufficient TO
convict Avery be obtained. A year or
SO later he went to Oil City Pa, where he
hung out ais sign as lawyer. Cliepf1
were plenty and fees large. Aver was
reaplng q golden harvest When no was
convicted of forgery and sent to the
WesIerh penltenpSry for four years and
eleven months. While there he fell i'm
rove with one Of the keepers daughters.
ana she offered 10 assist him to escape.
Ou. no refused to leave until his time was
Oe0E. At the end of the term he went
back to Rolands, soon afterward professed
religion. beg IN preaching little,
swlndled neighbOr ont of 500, and was
induced by the neighbor, who enforced
argument with big 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 money enough
TO take him to the mining regions of the
West, where, under an assumed name. he
opened law office and speculated in
stocks. In 1882, he 'sstruck it rich.v
cleared $75O,0O0, gave up stocks at oAce.
invested his money in government bcnds,
sent for his tiancee, the prison Keepers
daughter, who joined aim In Chicago.
where they we-e married. Avery is ONLY
"a years Old. He never touched liquor.
never gambled nor used tobacco. and
claims to have bee2 the s.yictiIn Of
circumstances He writes to friends
near here that he is leading an honest
upright life, and that when ka comes FAST
It VIII be as United States senator from
one OF the Western States,