The Portland daily press., 1895-08-24
AN AMPHIBToUs FUGITIVE.
Such the Sheriffs's Force Seemed to
Have ON Their Hands.

viditoe Fled Equally Well on Either Land
or Water-Caught at Last by Clever
Stratagem-Massachus Officers
Amusement.
The sheriff's office was confronted
yesterday with problem which for
time seemed likely to floor the whole
force A young fellow from Massachusetts,
slipped away in a fashion to make the
sheriff's suspected that he was
amphibious; and for time it seemed
that deputy with Divers suit would
be necessary.
Early in the day Police Officer Reick
of Somerville, Mass, arrived with papers
for the arrest of Stanley Viditoe, a young
Nova Scotian, 90 years Of ago, who had
jumped his bail in Somerville, where he
had been arrested for stealing a bicycle.
Viditoe was working for J. F. Buckley,
the old oarsman, now a milk farmer in
Stroudwater So Officer Reick, accom-
panied by Deputy Sheriff Dresser, rode
out to Buckleys' early in the morning.
Mr. Buckley said that Viditoe was up
stairs and started to call him. But
Viditoe had taken tho alarm, and run
ming down the front stairs, leaped
through the window, tearing the curtains
as he went. The officers saw him pass
down the road, but as he was well dressed
in outing clothes they did not suspect he
was the farm hand they were looking for
until Mr.. Buckley reported the chamber
empty.
Then the officers dashed down the road
after him. He then took to the fields,
running towards the Stroudwater river.
Officer Reick gave chase, Deputy Dresser
remaining to hi tch the horse AS Viditoe
neared the river, Reick was at his heels.
Capture seemed certain. Viditoe dashed
through the bushes and a splash was
heard. The next instant Reick was at
the waters edge, ready to follow when
his man should appear above the water.
But Viditoe did not appear. Only
bubbles rose to the surface of the placid
Stro udwater.
Officer Reick concluded that Viditoe's
bondsman could get him with a graphing
iron.
Deputy Sheriff Dresser meanwhile had
crossed the river below to head the
fugitive off, as Mr.. Dresser believed that
he would cross the river. But the most
painstaking search all along the river
failed to reveal the agile Viditoe.
So Messrs Reick and Dresse r, after in
forming Constable Leighton of the
phenomenon, returned to Portland.
About noon. after the officers had gone,
the apparently amphibious Viditoe APP
peared suddenly at Mr.. Buckley's house.
While a portion Of the family detained
him, Mr.. Buckley slipped out of the house
and started for the constable. But the
constable arrived only in time to see
Viditoe running for the woods. Mr..
leighton took the TRAIL however, and
pursued persistently as far as Westbrook.
Word of all this was sent to the sheriff S
office, and the whole force was,at once on
its nettle. Deputy Dresser with Officer
ReiclS started for the Stroudwater region,
Deputies Buckner and Collier went to
Wcstbrook, Deputies Firth and Plummer
were organized as light cavalry, and
Deputy Banks remained in the office as
chief Of staff
About four O'Clock w ord came from
Westbrook that man answering Vidi-
toes description had passed along the
Portland and Rochester track towards
Westbrook Junction. Deputies Firth and
Plummer were at once informed and
drove rapidly to Westbroolz junction.
There they found that their man had
been the re ten minutes before, and had
gone up the Maine Central track. So the
officers started at full speed for Fal
mouth. At the railroad bridge over the
Presumpscot in Falmouth, they stopped
and hid their horses in the woods. Then
they accommodated the track. Far down
they saw a man approaching. This was
probably the fugitive.
But how should they catch him. The
testimony of the Boston officer seemed to
show that he was amphibious, and if
such was the case the river was too near
for a long chase.
So the officers decided on a clever
stratagem. Taking some stakes they
went to work like section men. The ruse
worked Vidiote suspected nothing until
he was within reach of the officers arms.
Then, with an exclamation of disgust,
he yielded.
The officers brought Viditoe to the city,
and Officer Reicl1, started for Somerville
with him.
The Massachusetts, officer, if he believes
the evidence of his own eyes. must con-
slider his prisoner an amphibian. But the
Portland officers believe that Viditoe got
across the river before Reick got to the
bank Afterwards he took the old canal
for Westbrook.
Viditoe came originally from New
Brunswick. He is a well built young
man, about 25 years of age, with a
bright, good-natured manner and INTEL l.
gent face. He is about five feet, ten
inches in height, and weighs about 1866
pounds. He was taken back to Somer-