The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1884-08-28
IN The CORNFlEL.Ds,


When it was leaned that Asop and Graves,
the convicts who escaped from the penitentiary
at Frankior', Ky, during the late revolt, had
been seen IN WGodford County, coming west
ward, notice was sent all around the county to
watch Ear them. Then word was brought to
the city that they had demanded dinner at a
house about seven miles from town, and had
forced $4 from man named Regain in that
neighbolho0d. A sheril's posse was quick
ly made up and started. Tho sheriff asked
Stephen &. Sharpe, county attorney, and
George Cadwnlader to join the posse and go
down Jack = Creek pike and then join him at
III, house, six miles from the city. Rrgan lives
about mile from the sheriff.
Sharpe and Cadwalader went down Walnut
Hill pie, as the convicts had attempted to get
across, and proce ded half mile beyond the
toll-gate on that road, took q horse and n
buggy and hid at place commanding a view
oil the country some distance both ways. They
soon saw two men pass some straw stacks
down toward the toll-gate The pursuers
searched through the u:chyard and were
informed by w. Estill that lady hal seen two
armed men pass back of tho McTadden lace.
Sharpe took Estill's horse and Cadwalader
drove The buggy, both turning into Walter
S, OTIS front gate on the Richmond pike. Then
@ went each side of tn house. They saw
two men going through the hemp field and
Sharpe galloped a'terthem. When he got within
about sixty yards Ct them both leveled their
guns at HIM. Sharpe slipped off his horse and
took to a tree. The convicts also sought trees
A running fight opened. Sharpe fired at
Graves, then tried to get shot at Alsop, who
followed Graves across the stubble toward
rested his gun on the fence, fired and hit Alsop
in the left shoulder.
The posse now came up. Sharpe gallored
around through the woods and nga;n sighted
the fugitives going through the stubble and into
q cornfeld He rode along by the corner of
Shelby's house and into the cornlicld, and see
ing no tracks coming out reported to the posse
that the convicts were still in the corniield'
The men were posted laround the field, aid
the parry went in on tie track Of the 1ugltives
Cassel and james Veal Joined the posse here,
Sharpe Cnssell and Veal followed the track in
the corn 1cross ravine and struck the track
again. Their first intimation Of the where
about of he convicts was a couple of shots, ond
Cassell fell, saving to Sharpe: ooh, Steve! Oh,
Steve" Veal fired on tie convics. Sharpe
fell in the corn and Veal went back and re-
ported both killed. Sharpe who was playing
ossum, getting sight of one who proved to be
Graves fired, dropped, reloaded and every
thing remained quiet.
Sharpe now crawled out OF the corn to the
r,vine and waved his hat to the posse, but re-
ceiving no resp nse crawled through the ravine
and 10 ned the posse. The whole party now
took the rows through the corn toward tho
bodies. Sharpe saw tho canvlct raised on his
arm with pistol presented at Deputy Sheriff
Rogers. The weapon snapped and the posse
fired a volley, and, rushing up, found Graves
dead and Alsop dying. Each of tho convicts
had neede-gun and five pistols between
them. George Cassell, the.inan killed, leaves
n widow and nine children and was highly
respected citizen.