Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1897-04-23
"A HOLE IN THE DOOR"
Through which WIN. Reynolds CrHwled
10 Iiberty---His Companion In Crime
Wade No Attempt TO Escape.

Through which WIN. Reynolds CrHwled
TO Liberty---HIs Companion In Crime
Made No Attempt TO Escape.
ga Hole in the Ground" is one of Chas.
Hoyt's interesting comedies, but "a Hole
in the Door" takes precedence this week,
being a realistic story of the escape of the
third prisoner from the local bastile within
a wear. The hole was not large, but of
size sufficient to admit of the passage of
William REYNOLDS, one of the prisoners
who had been in custody since Saturday
night. thereby forcing a postponement of
| Deputy Sheriff McClure's contemplated
trip to Newfane on Monday evening.
William Reynolds, 20, and Charles p.
Rogers, 10, were bound out from the
Westboro. Mass, reform school between
four and five years ago for terms of four
wears each, and they began working for
| James and Chester Betterley on Dummers-
ton Hill. Later Reynolds worked for
Jonathan Herrick. The four years ended
last Christmas and on Christmas night the
house of James Betterley was entered and
an overcoat valued at $40, 20 pounds of
maple sugar valued at So, two cans of ma
pie syrup valued at 81, and a $3.50 gold
piece and some change were stolen. Rog-
ers went to Fall River, Mass, the next
uh1 anu lNcghOlu9 NOh'iHNSN 'S'A>i'b ~
Dummerston.
No clue was found which would lead to
the capture of the thieves until about two
months ago, when Chester Betterley re-
ceived a letter from Rogers in which he
stated that he committed the robbery
under Reynolds's influence, and that he
had sold the stolen goods and was ready
to settle for them. On March % Rogers
returned from Fall River and has since
worked for A. NJ. Merrifeld in Williams
Vile Since April Reynolds has worked
for II. &. Clark in this town.
Mr.. Betterley did not care to settle in
the manner indicated, but chose to teach
the boys a lesson, and, therefore, had
States Attorney Robb make out COM
plants against them and the papers were
put in the hands of Deputy Sheriff Nc
Clure Saturday. Mr.. Mcclure had no
trouble in serving the papers, although he
was impressed with the belief that Rey-
nolds was a slippery fellow and would
bear watching. The boys were put in the
lookup Saturday night, and on Monday af-
ternoon, after the arrival of States At
torney Robb from Bellows Falls, they we're
arraigned before Justice William S. New
ton and the charge was preferred against
them of breaking and entering the house
of Mr. Betterley and of the larceny there
from of the above mentioned articles.
They pleaded guilty and were put under
bonds of $500 each to appear before the
grand jury at the September term of the
county court. They were escorted to the
lookup to await the evening train, when
Mr.. Mcclure was to take them to Newfane
jail. While Mr.. Mcclure was out getting
the boys a lunch Reynolds stated to his
companion that he did not propose to re-
main longer in confinement and asked him
to assist in breaking out. Rogers said he
preferred to remain where he was, as he
would probably get caught if he broke out,
which would make a bad matter worse,
whereupOn Reynolds kicked out a door
panel, which was of soft pine and less
than half an inch thick. He crawled
through the hole and jumped to the rail
road bank from the rear of the Auditorium,
a distance of - or 20 feet, and ran across
the bridge into New Hampshire. Mr.. Nc
Clure procured team and started in pur-
suit, but Reynolds had probably taken to
The woods as he could not be found.
He has since been seen near the monu-
ment on the road TO Hinsdale but he is still
enjoying(?) his liberty. Mr. Mcclure be-
lieves he boarded a freight train at Hns-
dale and is now in Massachusetts,. About
O'Clock Tuesday night Mr.. Mcclure re-
ceved information that a mulatto boz
who has lately been at work for Ansel
Whitney of Dummerston had stolen $11
from Mr.. Whitneys vest pocket and had
absconded. The money was taken during
the day while the vest was hanging up,
and as the boy had several hours start it is
not known in what direction he went. Mr..
Mcclure is looking for both he and Rev
nolds. He, also is from the Westboro re-
form school.
1t was learned yesterday that Reynolds
returned to Mr.. Clarks during Monday
night and spent the night in the barn. In
the morning he asked Mr.. Clark for what
was due him as wages. and the amount
was paid over as Mr. Clark did not know
at the time that he had broken Jail.