The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1891-08-28
ALMY,s ALIAS.

HANOVER, N. H. Aug. 22.-The present
indications are that Almy will remain
here day or two more. Almy yesterday
emphasized his desire that people shall
not rank him with common murderers.
He said: ~ know, 1 committed a brutal
murder, nevertheless am not brute,
paradoxical though the statement may
appear. 1 don't deserve any pity and
ought to suffer for my crime. Christie
said she loved me; that had many good
qualities she admitted, but she added:
4 must test the sincerity of your love for
me by your leading an upright life,
and perhaps in the future your
efforts will be rewarded 1 am sure
that had there been no outside Influence
we would have got along much better"
The attention of the people is turn
ing to the $4,000, the price upon Almy's
head. ITO whom does this money
belong2" is a question that has been
much, though quietly discussed. 1t is
thought Professor Whitcher and ex-
Sheriff Brown, who discovered Almy,
will receive the reward of $4,000.
1t has been established beyond doubt
that ''FIank C. Amy is none other than
George H. Abbott, who escaped from
Windsor, Vt, state prison about six
years ago. Warden Cakes and two sup
erintendents from Windsor this morning
positively identified him as the man SEN
fenced.
Abbott, by burglary and reckless shoot
ing, frightened the people in Lyme, Or
ford, Thetford and Fairlee, Vt, some
eight or ten years ago. Abbott was To-
Gated in a cave on the mountain, where
his plumber was stored. His den was
charged upon and he was shot and cap
tured He escaped the first night after
he was captured, but was again caught
and sentenced to state prison at Windsor,
vt. He remained there but short time
before he escaped, since which time
nothing has been known of him.
Abbott was an expert burglar and a
desperate criminal. His age to-day
would be just that of Almy when he
escaped from prison. A reward of $500
was offered for his capture. He was
serving sentence of fifteen years, hav-
ing pleaded guilty in 1881 on nine indict-
ments for breaking and entering. Alb
bolt was from Salem, Mass, and Almy is
said to have come from that city. Abbott
was the ringleader of gang of burglars
who operated in the towns up and down
the Connecticut river from Barnet, Vt,
on the north, to Lynn, N. H. ,on the south.
He made his home most of the time at
the house of his uncle at Ely Station. In
December, 1880, he was captured near
Ely by posse led by Deputy Sheriff
Berry, Stored in the woods were found
over 800 articles which the gang had
stolen, and among them was aritle stolen
from Deputy Sheriff Berry. Abbott had
also taken $500 from Berry. He made a
desperate resistance and received twenty
bullet wounds before he surrendered.
Four days sfterward he escaped and ran
over a mile and half with nothing on
but his night shirt and a bedspread. He
concealed himself in railroad culvert,
but was soon found. Abbott conducted
himself so well in prison that he gained
the confidence of every officer connected
with the institution. At the end OF
seven years he was given place of trust
took advantage of it and escaped by
going over the prison wall at night and
although he had but fifteen minutes start
he was never tracked. Almy was gnard,
ed last night in his room by officers who
relieved each other at intervals. He
rested quietly until II o'clock, when he
became delirious and talked of love
poetry and natural history, etc. He
sang with firm strong voice severa
verses of "The Mocking Bird" ant
when he came to singing DER hel
grave" his voice broke and he wa!
completely overcome. He then told thu
story of the hotel guest, who not under
standing the proper use of the rope fire
escape, put the cord around his body anC
jumped out without manipulating thu
check pulley. AS he described the re
suit and pictured the man dangling a
the end of the rope, he laughed heartily
Lectures ON natural history were follow
ed by expressions of great love o
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