The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1885-07-15

morning train Friday with jaii-breaker Hen
ry Miller in charge. and once more placed
him in du-ance sile- Some three or four
months ago Miller WAS arrested on charge
of chicken stealing and was lodged in Jail
where he remained but few days. not car
ing particularly 70 escape trial for the Of
fense with which he was charged, but con-
suIneG with burning desire 10 demonstrate
TO his felIow-citizens the utter insecurity Of
the county prison. and with what ease a
man confined therein could make his escape,
he deliberately kicked hole in the north
wall and boldly walked TO Stoyestown and
liberty. The residents OF his native town
did not turn out TO taee: and welcome him
with bands of music and other signs aud
tokens Of rejoicing, nor did his fellow-tax-
payers along the line OF his march greet him
with the cheer and acclaim that usually
await the unseifish and self-sacriicing man
who does some great charitable or plilan-
thropic act for the public good HeartsicS,
and thoroughly convinced of tue migrate
fulness of mankind he remained at his home
but few days, when at the request and in
company with the Sheriff he again took up
his abode in the much-abused and oft-con-
demned Jail. Here he remained but brief
period, sadly pondering as to whether he
could best serve his feliow-citizsns by re-
naming where he was until the foul gases
and odors of the iily-ventilated bui lding and
the dirt and filth of its surroundings would
breed some dire disease that would seize
upon and rack his stalxart frame with such
virulency as would shortly relieve him of all
further earthly cares or troubles and would
spread itself as an epidemic among the lib
eral, humane and charitable people of Som
erset, or whether he could better awaken
them to full realization OF the condition
of affairs by once more illustrating the frsil-
ty of the structure and its worthlessness, by
again punching hole through the brick and
mortar through which TO make his exit and
for the present, at least, spare the good pco-
pie of Somerset from the evils that would
inevitably follow should he pursue The 9TH
er course. Allowing this humane feeling 10
control him he decided upon the latter plan
and carefully and successfully executed it. re-
turning to his home in ''the village there to
patiently await the result of his efforts in
attempting to demonstrate to the people of
his native county the total insecurity OF their
Jail and the great need of rebuilding or re-
modelling and improving i The action Of
A. I'm nj fb.a 1a-a lF
kindled a spark of hope in his fainting
heart. but as the weeks passed by with their
recommendations being unheeded and not
acted upon, in a fit of disgust and despair
abode in our sister county of Cambria, in a
secluded place, and that he might not be
overcome by too much thinking Of the per
verseness, penUriousneSs and fooiishness of
his former countrymen, he engaged at man
ual labor at his adopted couniy's water
works. Notwithstanding the earnest, eager
anxious and olt-repeated inquiries ofSheriff
Winters and his deputies he persisfently
refused TO make known his whereabouts aud
carefully elnded his former hosts attempts
to discover him few days since several
of bis friends, thinking to do him kind
ness, gave the Sheriff an inkling Of where
he was abiding, and that official, not having
lost the .'gsire TO- his company and compan-
ionship in his dwelling, concluded to wait
upon him and try 70 induce him 70 return
TO the castle from which ne had made his
exit BY way Of hole in the wall Fearing
that his persuasive powers might not be
sufficient, the Sheriff bethought himself of
a small piece Of strategy, and summoaing
to his assistance neighboring and kind
hearted blacksmith, these twain together
went quietly and noiselessly to Miller's
domicil and they raped gently at the
door, whereupon gentle voice from within'
inquired. Who's theregn
Then the kind-hearted blacksmith made
answer and said: " Be not afraid it Is | )
the winds by.their blowing have extingnish-
ed my torch, and unless you viii speedily
furnish me with light / viii be un table to
find my way home through the darkness.
Immediately The door was loosed from its
fastenings and swung back ON its hinges,
and the blacksmith and Sheriff walked into
the kitchen. The proprietor was somewhat
astounded al the number ana character of
his visitors, but with his usual politeness
and hospitality quickly bade them be seat
ed, and engaged them in conversation. The
Sheriff told him how he had missed him,
how anxiously and eagerly he bad inquired
for him, and diligently searched for him.
Told him how his nocturnal leave-taking
had been misunderstood. and spoken of by
unfeeling people told him of the short
sighted action of one Of the county papers,
how it was trying to prevent the building Of
new castle, claiming that il was not need
ed ; told him of the progress of the Poor
House Committee told him of Capt. Sam
Adams and his wonderful machinery. how
be was boring hole in the ground with a
steam engine in near proximity to the
old Jail building, that the water could be
used in mixing the mortar wherewith TO lay
the stone and brick for the proposed new
structure, and as a further inducement for
him to return to Somerset the Sheriff then
and there presented him with pair of
costly, close-ftting steel bracelets, and
promised to load him down with presents
on their arrival at the castle. At last, beng
oyer persuaded. he agreed to accompany the
Sheriff and they arrived here as above stated.
when the Sheriff kept his word by making
him the recipient Of a large ball and chain.
With this. and the diversion furnished by
Capt. Adams engine and boring apparatus.
and the crowd Of men and boys that gather
round it, it is thought that be can be indue-
ed to remain till Court, when he can fully
give his views to the Grand Jury on the ne
cessity of a new Jail, and should the Judge
request him he will probably examine some
other prison, built on larger scale, ard re-
port thereon about two years hence. This
is the story of Henry J. Miller Miller the
chicken thief, Miller the philanthropist
Henry the jail-breaker.
RESOLUTIONS OF RESPECT.
AT a meeting of the Somerset Ministerial
Association, the following preamble and
resolutions were adopted on the death of
Rev Jacob Smith:
WHEREAS, God in His Providence has
seen best TO call from labor to reward our
beloved brother, Rev. Jacob Smith. an eff
cient member of the Somerset Ministerial
Association, therefore
Res,{red That we recoyuize in ,,s,- d.