Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1892-03-04
BACK TO PRISON.
The sad story of n Ruined Young Life.

We take the following from the Lewis
ton, Me. Journal. II refers to the young
man whose letter was published III the
HERALD short time since.
Deputy Sheriff William Perkins took
Young William Johnston to Thomaston
Monday to serve Il sentence of three
years and six month for second offcnsc
of breaking and entering and larceny.
Although Johnston is but twenty-one
years OF age he is "old in sin" A
Journal reporter interviewed him before he
got to the State prison and he made Il
confession of not only this crime but of a
life of disgrace.
lie was born in Andover, Nc. His
fathers name was James Johnston and if
he is living, it is in Massachusetts. His
mother who was a delicate woman died
when he was two months old He was
adopted, he says, by Mr.. Josiah Bailey of
Andover, and with the exception of one
year lived at Andover with Mr.. Bailey
until he was II years old. He had borne
a good reputation up to the time of his
first ofense. But he had began gambling
and drinking and these vices wrought his
downfall.
His first offense was the larceny of 500
from Mr. Bailey. He was arrested at
Bethel BY Sheriff Wormell in March 1887.
He was bound over to await the action
of the October term of court whereas he
should have been tried in MAY. For this
reason he was discharged A little later
at Gorham, n. H., he hired out with
| Miller & Frceman's circus as driver. At
Napanee, Province of Ontario. he was dis
/ Il. sd
without his clothes. He had So with
which he took passage down Quintc Bay
where he worked in lumber mill. When
he got money and clothes enough he re-
turned to Gorham.
Johnston next went to Brvant's Pond
where he worked for Mr.. Andrew Wood
ward, and later for Stillman Blodgctt
After working for Mr.. VIM. ]. kimball
at the Union House, Rumtord Center, he
went to Red Hllto work for Mellen Rowe
and was arrested on a charge OF stealing
from Miss Columbia Kmball.
| Later he was arrested for breaking into
the store of A. S. Bean and stealing 500
worth of jewelry. He confessed this and
went to Thomaston for two years.
The 3Oth day OF last September he was
let out of prison and went to Portland
Then he walked to Lewiston, and from
there to Gorham. He worked one day
in the little town Of Gilcad. After this lie
worked III several printing Offices as 4
compositor. He had learned the trade o.
Mr.. Roscoe A. Morrow in the Wilton Re
cord office.
The night OF the last burglary he ar
rived in his native village, Andover, after
dark. He had walked twenty-eight miles
he was cold. wet, and discouraged. HI
knew very we'll that in all the village
there was not one warm hrcsidc tina
would welcome him.
So he crawled into storage building
owned by Samuel Bottom, and went t.
sleep. In the night he was aroused b,
voices. He kept quiet and heard thrc
men talking i'll whispers and evidentl,
quarreling over stolen goods. He heart
the details Of proposed robbery II
Washington county. Then by accidcn
the robbers became aware that he was il
the storage building. There were click
of rcvolvers and he stepped out into tn
light of their lanterns. One OF them h
knew, having seen him i'll Auburn jail
They told him how they had entered tn
store of Richard l.. Melchcr and stole
, goods. He says that he tried to lcav
the gang at this moment but they threat
ened him.
The people of Andover do not know
, u.s. they said. land they do know you
They will say among themselves that 70
were the robber because OF your record
, You better go upcountry with us" The
had been drinking and he was sober. II
took nearly all of their stolen goods an
rs in change. He Travelled about unit
he got Job in printing Office in NeN
Hampshire. He worked eight days an
then was arrested by Deputy Sheri
Charles Ladd of Island Pond.
On the advice of Lawyer John p. Sws
sey he pleaded guilty before Judge Virgi
and has gone down for three years an
six months. The story of this crime ha
never been made public till young WilliaI
told it to the Journal reporter.