The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1897-12-25
MASON ESCAPED.
Alleged Burglar Leads York County
Officers Good Chase.

a lively chase after man by the name of
Mason and finally lost track of him when
within few miles of this city. They
followed him for twelve miles or more
through the woods and along unfre-
quented roads and when they reached this
city they were pretty we'll played out,
were Thoroughly chilled and their horse
was about worn out from hard driving.
The man Mason is said to have formerly
lived in Biddeford and has gone under a
number of different names, one Of these
being Marshall. He married woman in
Saco by the name of Hanson and they
have of late been boarding at q house at
Clark's Mills. Mason is wanted in New
Hampshire for breaking and entering, the
town in which the crime was committed
being Sanbornville.
Yesterday morning Deputy Sheriff
Leavitt received word from an officer at
Sanbornyille to the effect that Mason. or
Marshall, was wanted in that place for
breaking ana entering and also for break
ing jail, that he was headed for Alfred
and to be on the lookout for him.
AS soon as he could DO so Deputy
Leavitt boarded train and went to
Alfred, where he reported to Jailer Hurd
what he had learned. In the afternoon
the two officers took q team and drove to
Clark's Mills and had no trouble in locat-
ing their man in mill there. Jailer
Hurd went up to him and said he would
like to see him in the office for minute,
supposing the man did not know he was
an officer. It seems, however, that Mason
recognized Hurd. Without betraying any
surprise he said he would go to the office
in minute, but wanted to stop in an adj
joining room and would be right out.
Jailer Hurd said he would wait for him
and Mason left the room.
The officers waited several minutes and
as Mason did not return they started to
leave the mill, 1t dawning upon them
that he had fed. and when they reached
the door they saw him striking across a
field in the direction of piece of woods.
Another story is that the officers went
to the mill and arrested Mason and he re-
quested them to go with him to the house
he WAS boarding at, saying he wanted to
do an errand They did SO and left him
alone for few minutes, and in this time
woods. He was seen by theqoficers to run
across field and disappear in the woods.
Jailer Hurd and Deputy Leavitt jumped
in their team and started in pursuit of
the man. They drove along roads, cart
paths, followed Mason on foot through
the woods and across fields being able to
track him easily on account of the light
snow. Once they came to the river and
found the place where he had entered and
crossed. The water was shallow at this
point and the man had no trouble in
wading across.
In this way they tracked Mason to this
city, but when they got within few
miles of Biddeford they lost sight of the
tracks in the snow and came across fresh
wagon tracks, and it is supposed that the
man was taken in q team and brought
here.
1t is believed that after Mason got away
from the officers either at the mill or
after he had been taken to his boarding
house he notified his wife and told her to
get team and drive to certain place
where he would meet her and that she
did as directed AT any rate the woman
got the owner of the boarding house to
hitch up bis team and they started for
this city, she telling him that she wanted
to go to Old Orchard. It has been learned
that the woman was driven to Saco and
that is the last that has been heard of
her.
The. man who drove her down was after.
wards seen by Deputy Leayitt at his
homeand the officer triedsto get him to
give warning when Mason should return
to the house so that he might go there
and arrest him. The man said it would
he Of no use to agree to anything of the
kind as Mason would not return, his wife
having left and gone to Saco or Old Or
chard.
It was nearly ten O'Clock last night
when Jailer Hurd and Deputy Leayitt
reached this city andS ran across Joseph
fl. Cote. They told their story to him and
he took them to his house and put up the
team. Then he hitohed up his own team
and with Deputy Leavitt drove to Old
Orchard leaving Jailer Hurd, who was
wet and cold and was without an over
coat, at the house.
Chief of Police Whittier was seen at
Old Orchard but nothing could be ascer-
a., &.1+ L ri. -, g
his wife. Chief Whittier promised to
make search of the town this morning
and Deputy Leayitt and Cote drove back
to Biddeford.
This morning Jailer Hurd and Deputy
Leavitt left on the return trip to Alfred.
Nothing has since been heard of Mason
or the woman.