The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1898-11-03

Height, feet 61a inches; weight, 165;
blue eyes, brown hair, slightly gray,
beard brown, face smooth at time of
escape, medium complexion, slight scar
from cut at right of forehead, slight
film over pupil of right eye, slight cut
on left forefinger finger slightly short
ened.
The general opinion of Worcester
people regarding the probable appre-
hension of the confidence man is en-
bodied in a remark by Inspector O'Day
of the local police force: In my judg-
ment, they won't get Reed. He has al
| together too many influential friends,
| who are doing all in their power to
| keep him out of the hands Of the law. -
| Reeds disappearance up to date is
complete, nothing new has developed
| in the past "a hours further than the
| forming of a set of brand new theories
as to how the escape was planned.
Men are also heard from each day who
| know something about the case and
would be willing to go on the stand in
court and testify to what they know.
When they are looked up however,
the invafiable result is that some else
told them so. No one Is willing to
shoulder any responsibility in the line
of direct testimony.
The latest theory or possible fact,
providing it is assumed that officer
kADDOII WAS COlltSTIlcQ IN the prisoner
escape, is that Reed did not come to
Worcester at all or that he was on
the train and continued through to
New York
The idea being that another man was
substituted in Reeds place. The plan is
feasible, providing, as has been said,
that Officer Abbott was cognizant Of
what was taking place. With a substi-
tute in the place Of Reed, who is known
to very few people in Worcester, it
would be an easy matter to keep up
the bluff until some one was encoun-
tered who knew the principal
If this is what actually took place,
there is no longer any reason for doubt
regarding the officers action in the
matter. But this is only one of the
many plans that have been advanced
since Monday morning.
Two men have been heard of, how
ever, who are positive in the state
ment that Reed was not brought to the
Sherwood house last Sunday afternoon.
The opinion of the outside public, as
embodied in the ideas expressed by
number of travelling men, who assem-
bled in the Office of the Bay State house
last night, is that there are others con-
nected with the prison force, beside
Officer Abbott, who shoulder q. part of
the blame in connection with the mat
ter.
AS one man remarked, zone thous-
and $4,000, or $5000 might not have been
enough, but the friends who have stood
behind Reed during the past months
would not hesitate to put up $4,000, or
$50, 000 If necessary, in my estimation"
The general opinion of these men is
that If any one was bought there are
others higher than Abbott who came
in for a share of the spoils-
Chief brennan has very little to say
~ until naf To
remark that the officers have been in
structed to be on the lookout for what
ever they may learn locally regarding
the matter. He does not consider that
Reed is anywhere within a radius of
many miles of this city.
inspectors O'Day and Stone are look
ing for whatever they can find in con-
nection with the matter, but report
that they have learned nothing new
in connection with the case. Yesterday
Afternoon a Somerville officer was in
town. and CHANGING to pass the Shef-
wood House in company with ODay
and Stone expressed a desire TO in
spect the room from which Reed es-
caped so cStetly.
He was shown the room by Landlord
Hurley and told what is already so well
known to Worcester people regarding
the matter. The officer appeared sat
isfied that there was but one logical
means of escape from the building un-
der the circumstances, and that was
by the front way.
In Boston the same state of affairs
exists as in this city
No trace has yet been found of the
missing confidence man, in spite of
the fact that every agency at the COM
mand of the police and the state prison
officials has been set at work in the
hope of capturing the escaped convict.
Warden Bridges stated today that he
realized that it is likely to be long,
hard chase before Reed is recaptured,
if he is ever caught.
Warden Bridges said: Il have not
yet a single bit of information about
the whereabouts Of. Reed but will will
lingly pay for information out of my
own pocket, If necessary, to recApture
him. The escape Of the bunco man
grieves me deeply, especially so as it
is the first man that the state has lost
since l have been warden, nearly six
years. / have not seen Abbott since
he was suspended, and ! have not re-
ceived any additional information about