The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1898-11-01

Tor changing his appearance 10 such a
degree as TO make it well nigh impos-
slble to recognize him from the de-
scription sent OUT
Officer Abbott was up a good part
OF the night sending kilograms in all
directions available at that hour in
hopes of cutting off Reed by this
means. He admitted that he should not
have allowed the man out of his sight
and says had he been in sight Reed
would not have dared make an at
tempt to get away.
Abbott has a wife and two children
and appears to take the matter very
hard. In fact, he seems assured of the
fact that his official head is hanging
over the basket. He is a well built
man and looks amply able to take care
of himself under ordinary circumstan-
ces.
That he is man of good courage
was demonstrated in the desperate at
tempt of the two desperadoes, Herbert
and Everett Willis, to fight their way
to liberty from the guard room on Aug.
10, 1897
Abbott was watching the two young
men when their pistols were discharged,
one at Turnkey Darling and the other
at Officer Witham. Abbott sprang to
the assistance of the latter ana was
fired at by Herbert Willis, which shot
the officer lodged. Then he was Crap
pied by Everett, the convict's brother,
and the two went to the floor together.
The muzzle of Everett Willis revolver
was pressed against Abbott's abdomen,
but the cartridge failed to explode on
the pull of the tragger. The courageous
officer held on, struggling hard to gain
the advantage, when young Willis sue
h 1rrI Tcines
the butt of his pistol as a club, in
hammering the officer over the head.
Abbott lost consciousness for n BRIEF in
terval, and, on recovering, the fight was
over. He bore the marks of his en-
counter for days afterward. Officer Abb
bolt was presented to the governor
with officer Witham, and both were
congratulated by his 'eXcellency. Abbott
came to the prison as a keeper in 1893
or "a.
The following official description has
been issued from the state prison:
Escaped from Massachusetts state
Reed, No. 12,946 Height
5 feet 615 inches; age, 38; eyes blue;
hair brown; complexion light; weight,
100 pounds. Marks, etc: Slight cut on
left forefinger and the finger slightly
slight short cut on right
side of forehead slight film on pupil
of right eye"
Another default against John Reed
was recorded in the criminal court yes
terday, before Judge Bond, and the
is $1,000 richer Col William A.
Gle was in court to appear for his
client, although he had seen in The
Spy that Reed had disappeared. When
the case was called Judge Bond stated
that he had seen that Reed had es-
capped, and the Worcester county Off
GERS came into congratulatory notice
from the court for being clear in the
matter. District Attorney Herbert
Parker also spoke in complimentary
and felicitous terms of the Worcester
deputies, that the escape had not been
made from them, and he wisely pre-
dicted that it could not have been.
District Attorney Parker moved for
q, default to the state of $1,000 given by
John Reed in cold cash when his case
for assault on an officer came up in the
the district court, and he was bound
over to the. criminal term. At the
trial of the case for assault
on officers A. D. Preston and William
Hanna of Harvard, Reed was placed
under bonds for his appearance before
the criminal term, and in the absence
of bondsmen, his friend, John Mclean
of New York, coolly deposited $1,000 in
cash.
District Attorney Parker's motion
was allowed, and the county gets $1,000
by Reeds escape. There had never
been a preliminary hearing in the
Comfort Thompson case of Uxbridge
where the aged farmer claims to have
been buncoed out of $4,000, and no bonds
We're given or cash deposit made. The
$1,000 cash deposit was made at the
time when Reed, in company with his
rich New York friend, was making his
famous bailing tour of the state, in
which over $4,000 was deposited. After
the few words had been spoken in the
Reed case. the court resumed consi-
deration Of the KulwinsN indictments,
but interest in the Reed matter reigned
undated.
The Worcester county deputies, espe-
oiallX those who have been in attend
arce upon the present session of the
court before Judge Bond, eagerly dis
cussed John Reeds escape yesterday
and felicitated themselves that the
reputation of Worcester county depu-
ties remained as bright and unspotted
as in years past. Whatever they may
think about officer Abbott privately,
they publicly blame him alone for his
gross carelessneSs,
officer Abbott was at the court house
QullAiS SllC dIlu E1dIlGQ WlLD
the Worcester officers in the lobby of
the court house, where were District
Attorney Herbert Parker, Assistant
District Attorney George S. Taft, Court
Officer A. A. Jenkins Deputy Sheriff
W. w. Scott Deputy Sheriff Emory o.
Bacon and Deputy Sheriff David H.
Hayter. officer Abbott appeared dis
heartened and admitted that he had
been careless to a great degree. The
escape was painful theme, however,
and he did not discuss the matter free
ly.
Court Officer A. A. Jenkins of Mill
ford who was sent down to Charles
town in the first place to get Reed, had
some conversation with Officer Abbott
Friday when Reed was first arraigned,
and warned him that he should exer-
else more care in behalf of his charge.
Sheriff Jenkins was sent down to the
state prison to get Reed to bring him
to Worcester, and when he presented
his writ of habeas corpus with the ne
cesSary papers to Warden Bridges. he
was told that it had been the custom of
the prison authorities to let a convict
go out of the prison only with prison
official. Accordingly, Court Officer
Jenkins left the papers and returned to
Worcester Court officer Jenkins takes
no chances with criminals, and exer-
cises care according to the value of his
prisoner to the state. When a man is
as valuable to the state as Reed was,
he would not think for a moment of
letting his charge walk through the
streets without handouts. but would
have the prisoners own hands locked
together or locked to the officer in
charge
Worcester deputies recall wildly the
appearance of Reed at the court Fri
day Reed and Officer Abbott chatted
pleasantly, and EN- route to and from
the court house the prisoner and officer
walked apart, and never did pair of
handouts appear in sight. Worcester
county officers are always cautious
when big game is at stake, and this
freedom on Abbott's part struck them
with SURPRISE. Abbott and Reed smoked