Connecticut western news., 1884-02-20
STORY. oF THE CAPTURE
How Hadley Was Traced to Baltimore
 ---Bearded in EHis Den. ....

The recapture at Baltimore of James Higgins, alias Richard Hadley, the post office and country store burglar, was the excellent work of Postmaster Clark of Birmingham and Inspector Henderson of Baltimore. Indeed the gang of burg lars of (which Hadley was the ringlead-:; CTS owes it's disintegration, to the post master, who, months ago, suspected it and took steps to corner the outlaws Hadley, after being sentenced to ten years in Wethersfeld, was on October 12 last placed in @ wagon with several other convicts and driven from Iitch- field by Sheriff Porter on the way to state prison. He was handcuffed and and his feet manacled. Behind the wagon was another vehicle with more conYicts. In some mysterious way, yet to be investigated, he had obtained 8 key with which he easily gave his limbs their freedom. Then taking advantage of bend in the wooded road so as to avoid being seen by the wagon behind, he jumped out and made for the woods. HADLEY's COURSE AFTER HIS ESCAPE. According to his admissions, since his recapture, he kept along in. the woods, running in the same direction as the cred the abrupt departure of his. dis charge, he immediately drove back. These tactics gave Hadley @ good lead. He hurried to Hartford and took Q freight train up the road. At a place 15 or 20 miles away he aGghted and made across the country for Troy where he had relatives. At Troy he was cor dia1ly received and reftted. Then he went to New York, where he remained until November 2, on which day he started for Baltimore He had kept se- cluded and had disguised himself by ,dyelng his moustache and raising full beard. But on the 31st of October his wife visited him at New York and after ward she maintained @ roundabout cor respondence with him. For two weeks he stopped at Baltimore and then went to Pittsburgh. After 8 survey of the field there and, as supposed, some burg larlous operations he returned to Balti-
 more, winch be made the base of his operations. Though he had few friends when he arrived, he. joined a young mems democratic club and was soon the center of an admiring circle, who were greatly pained at the demand made up- on him afterward by the authorities. Last Thursday. he was arrested on a - charge of burglary at the post office at Z Annapolis Sunday night, the Sd inst, - but there was no case against him and United States Commissioner Rogers ot Baltimore discharged him. But the To- cal authorities had long suspected him for other bnrglaries and tracked him to : IA North Gay street where he lived.
 MEETING LAW WITH REVOLVER.
 ,s> Saturday afternoon last, Inspector Henderson who knew the Connecticut officials wanted him, took four men and surrounded the house. The inspector guarded the front door, at which Had 1. ley appeared with leveled revolver, One of the guard opportunely appeared : in: the rear and knocked it out of posi- ! ton, saying: "tGiye 1t to me, sonny All right, uncle,' D said Hadley, resign
 ing the weapon. Sheriff Porter, Depu
 ty Peck and Postmaster Clark started for Baltimore at once. It required grea
 carefulness to prevent the prisoner get
 ting into the hands of the local authori
 ties ssand being retained for other burg
 larfes. Tuesday night he was success fully placed aboard the mail car of the
 Il:36 express and taken in this car
 bandcuffed to Deputy Peck until Jerse, ,Clty Was reached at 8 o'clock ,,Wednes
 day morning. No officer: O
 the state could enter the mai
 car, the property of Uncle Sam
 and thus no process could be served The trip from Jersey City to Hartfore was made in the usual way, the arriva
 here being at 1925. Hadley's. appear .ance is much changed and except in
 bus less way he is said to be trustwor
 thy. 'eBut when business begins, say tlte auctioneer, friendship ceases. "- .',,Hartord Post, Feb. IA. :.