The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1893-05-17

There wss no doubt as to who had
committed this crime, The murderers
iac9 had been seen by both the mother
and sister. But where was hef Inc
entire community, REINFORCED by 2OO
students and professors from tho college,
WIS enlisted in the search, Descriptions
were telegraphed to all parts Of the
world, and an outraged multitude
secured the country for the wretch.
After committing tho murder Amy
retreated to the refuge which he had
prepared, where he had hidden him
self before and where he ballled for
weeks afterward the skill OF the smart
eat detectives. 1t was in Farmer War
denis hay NOV. There, with pro.
visions and ammunition, be watched
tho funeral OF his victim. When the
first midnight settled down upon the
new-made grave he stole forth, plucked
flowers from her garden and with them
decorated hor grave. The unsuccessful
search might have continued indeh-
nitely had not the murdered girls
mother discovered in the yard indica-
tons that some one was concealed IN
the hay, and given the alarm.
THE CAPTURE.
officers OF the law and angry citizens
armed to the teeth surrounded the
murderers citidel, intent upon revenge,
There was much shooting back and
forth. Finally the belligarant muir
derer, having exhausted his ammuni-
ton, was famed and CAPTURED. And
then tho excited multitude aheathed
their weapons, smothered their right
eous Indignation, aud, instead OF
lynching the monster, saw the sheritfs
carry him away to Jail for safe keeping,
The subsequent legal proceedings in
this case have been long and involved.
One would think there had been no
need OF complications, but political
animosities have interfered 10 prolong
tho life OF the wretch until to-
day. Twice has the highest court
in the state pronounced the death
sentence, and twice has the death war
rant been read to the prisoner, Amy
made no denial OF the murder; indeed,
he pleaded guilty, and left the decree OF
the crime, under the queer New
Hampshire law, to be determined
by the court His story was that
he revisited Hanover for tho purpose OF
throwing himself at the feet OF the girl
and entrustlng her to pledge herself to
him. He could give no satisfactory
reason for going armed, but he hinged
his hope Of clemency on the ingenious
theory that, rs he was dragging her
through the bushes, one chamber OF the
revolver was accidentally discharged,
making the peculiar wounds which have
been referred to. Seeing that she was
ruined for lie he Coolly shot hor
through the heart with the other cham
Der "to put her out OF her misery"
The belief OF those who have looked
most closely into Almy's identity Is
that he is George II. Abbott, young
man OF respectable parentage and good
training, who At an early period chose
burglary as his life work-became sort
OF rural Robin Hood-and served term
in the Vermont state prison ten years
ago. Not word has he uttered on
the subject since his imprison-
ment. When the woman who
reared young Abbott wrote Almy n
pleading letter asking il he we're really
her foster child no said: II don't
know this woman" When the report
ers wero in the first months OF tho ex-
citement securing the country, follow
ing up the footsteps Of the prisoner,
they came to the conclusion that deep
mystery enshroudcd him. 1t was at
first believed that he was the son OF o
southern millionaire, who had killed u
PLAYMATE in frolic and was hiding his
name and identity.
HIS PREVIOUS HISTORY.
The Identification OF Almy as Abbott
showed him to BIO one OF the most re-
markable murderers ever known. OF
tho past fifteen years no spent ten in
various prisons, yet he was not thirty
five years OF age until January |, 1902.
Abbott was born in January, 1867, at
Salon, Mass, and three days after his
birth the mother died,
When ten years old he was sent to
tho district school, but he had not been
there long before the scholars began to
miss small articles, and they were final
ly traced to Abbott. At twelve he was
stealing jewelry, aud at fourteen he had
fitted up o cave by the river where he
concealed articles Of plumber.
In the fall OF 1874, when Abbott was
seventeen years old, he was arrested for
entering house and stealing forty Sill
yer watches, valued at $500, and twenty
gold pins valued at S25. He was ar
raigned for burglary in the court at Ply
mouth, November g. 1874, pleaded gull
ty to the charge, was sentenced to four
years in the state prison at Concord, and
was committed November IA, 1874. The
father, overcome by shame and despon-
dency. committed suicide by hanging
himself in his barn at Salem.
On his discharge from Concord he
was Of ago and came into possession Of
the property left by his father, about
$1,000, but he spent it all in one year
Abbott soon turned to his old COM
panions, and directed the depredations
oil large gang Of burglars and high
waymen. During tho year OF 1880 he
created a reign OF terror in North
Thetford and the neighboring towns,
houses and stores being entered. Sus-
picion pointed 80 strongly to Abbott
that he suddenly disappeared. He was
afterward located on tho Thetford
mountain, whore he had fortified and
furnished cave at an almost inaccessi-
bic point.
Ho resisted capture until badly
wounded, and was brought to tho vii.
lagc on a stretcher. the physicians pro-
neuncing him almost paralyzed. Alb.
bott cleverly encouraged this belief, and
ono night when his keeper loft the
room, no Jumped out Of bed, and with
only bed quilt wrapped around him,
fled into the woods. A searching party
was organized, aud aomo hours later he