Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1898-11-04
REED THE BUNCOER
Escaped from an Officer at WOr-
cester Sunday Night.
He Had Previously Forfeited s17,5OO
In Bsil---WRs Under Sentence TO Serve
IL TO Ia Years In Prison.

He Had Previously Forfeited $4,000
I'm Bsil---WRs Under Sentence TO Serve
IL TO Ia Years In Prison.
John Reed, the notorious confidence man.
who operated so extensively throughout
New England in the latter part of 1897
has again secured his liberty. This time
he did not secure his freedom by defaulting
his bail, as IN previous cases, but by getting
away from his keeper Officer j. l.. Abbott
OF the Massachusetts state prison, who, on
writ OF habeas corpus had taken the con
wet TO Worcester, where Reed was to be
tried IN the superior court, Monday, on
three charges-one of larceny and two of
assault on Clinton officers.
Reed and the officer reached Worcester
Sunday about 3 P. NJ. and they went di-
rectly to the Sherwood House, where the
bunco man was visited by his counsel. Col
w. A. Gle of Worcester Officer Abbott
remained with Reed throughout the even
ing, being present when Reeds wife visited
him. Abbott says he had occasion to leave
the room shortly after midnight. and that
when he returned a few minutes later Reed
had disappeared. hurried search was
made of the hotel and then the police of
Worcester and the surrounding towns
were notified Reed stole the overcoat of
Proprietor Hurley before fleeing from the
hotel.
heed may have escaped from the city bv
boarding freight train, but it Is probable
that he had assistance and that the manner
of his flight had been arranged by confed-
crates
When Reed operated so extensively
throughout New England last wear. he had
many aliases, the principal ones being
Spencer and Greenhalge He was caught
IN Clinton, Nov. 10, after long chase
lie was from time TO time arraigned in
several places, and cash bail was put up in
each case by unknown friends, until his
freedom had been secured by the deposit
ing OF 81, 800 IN the treasures Of different
counties He jumped his bail, forfeiting
the 1000. On Jan 10 of this year he
was captured Ia Philadelphia, and on reaui-
sltlon papers was brought back 70 Massa
chusetts He was then confined in the iail
at East Cambridge
dis FIRST conviction was secured at East
Cambridge on March g. when he was found
guilty of the larceny of 5000 from Salma
-. Hardy, birmingham farmer Judge
bishop imposed a sentence of not more than
hve years nor less than four wears in the
9NoVV Piisohs again on MdrCn IA, Reed
was convicted IN the East Cambridge
court, and for the larceny of $4,000 from
Charles Sweetser of Chelmsford he was
given an additional sentence of from four
70 five years in the state prison. Later on
he was convicted in Plymouth county of
larceny, and he was given an additional
sentence of from three 70 four wears in the
Charlestown institution. This makes a
term of not less than ! years or more than
IA years that he was serving at the time of
his escape.
Reeds home was in Painfield. n j
where he lived in luxury The residents
OF that town supposed he was a gentleman
OF leisure, and despite the fact that he was
known to travel extensively, he never had
the finger OF su picion pointed at him until
after his arrest IN Philadelphia 1t was a
long time before the citizens of Plainfield
could be made to believe that "Mr. Speu-
Ger, as he was known there, was guilty of
the charges of swindling brought against
ham. IL is generally believed that Reed
at the time of his capture, was one .. thc
leading men in huge swindling syndicate,
with its headquarters in the West.