Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1898-06-21

than to have the Whole escape. so he
turned to close and lock the door and
Freeman sprang away through the un-
locked doors. to the Woodshed of the
dwelling house. Drandishng his stick.
In the shed he met Mrs. NileS, who
turned and ran screaming for help.
She ran directly to the safe which was
unlocked and there she tripped and fell
striking her head and spraining her
wrist Freeman. in the meantime had
Jumped out of the side shed door,
across the yard, down over a wall ~
feet high around the rear of the jail.
out onto High street and away to the
railroad, along which he proceeded I'M
til he came to the steps leading to the
Judge Bel estate. Up these he flew.
Mrs. Viles. who was thoroughly
frightened and who believed that her
husband had been killed or injured by
the escaping prisoner, who IS we'll
known as a desperate criminal. ran
through the house calling loudly fot
her 1S-year-old son, Blaine 5. Niles,
who was yet in bed UP stairs. Young
Viles heard the frantic calls of his
mother and realizing that there was
trouble below. jumped the stairs with
out going to the trouble to put on his
clothes. out of the door the athletic
young fellow sprang and luckily was
Just in time to see Freeman streaking
it for the railroad.
Among other things that Blaine is
proud of, are his lungs. They have the
volume and scope of 10 octave steam
caliope, and he opened their valves to
the widest extent. Ii was a sudden
and rude awakening that High street
got this morning. Down the street
flew the symphony in white. up went
the neighborhood windows and night
capped heads bobbed forth from the
the street On Madison avenue resides
Or. l.. \. Dascomb. He had not yet
arisen from bed. but he heard the cries
of the fleet pursuer. and he got out OF
bed, took his revolver, went down stairs
and out upon the greensWard, just as
Freeman staggered up weak and pant
ing. Freeman still had the club in his
hand AS Dr. Dascomb did not care to
shoot. he gave the revolver to young
Vies. who had dashed up and said:
Here. take this and shoot him if h.
don't stop
Young Vilcs. who was feeling just
as kinky as a colt, took the gun and
covering the escaping prisoner. said:
Freeman, you stop now, or I'll pump
you full of lead" Freeman stopped.
saying: "All right, Blaine, l am all
beat out
Police Officer Pooler. who was pass
ing along Madison avenue, was called
Ny young Viles and assisted in return
ing Freeman to his cell
Sheriff Niles. in the meantime, had
made things secure in the jail had at
tended to his wife, and was almost
ready to swear. when his son appeared
at the door With Freeman.
Freeman is a desperate man. He has
served time in many jails and several
state prisons. He has told Sheriff
Niles that he will never go back to
Thomastnn again. and if he can not es-
cape he will hang himself. 1t was up
on his person that Sheriff Niles dis
covered the hair brush V h a false
back. containing tools f. escape.
Freeman is a large man, G feet tall. So
years of age. powerful and every inch
n bad man. Young Blaine Spooner
Niles, the young hero of the episode, is
a corner of the old block He is of
medium build, weighs about $50
pounds. has a Wel-knit frame, q con-
stltution patterned after government
mule with sand" as plentiful as the
wastes of Sahara. He will he gradu-
ated from the Skowhegan High school.
this spring. and plans to enter BoWdoin
college in the fall.