Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1899-06-29
PRISONER GAINS LIBERTY.
Made a Murderous Attack on Keeper in
ths House of Correction Blood
Hounds on His Trail.

Rutland, June 27.-James Mcdonald, af-
ter very fierce fight with Keeper John
Holland at about 3 o'clock this morning
made his escape from the House of Correc-
tion. Mcdonald was armed with an iron
bar II inches long which he used with muir
derOus intent upon the keeper. Blood
hounds have been placed on his trail and
his capture is expected soon.
He was assisted in the act by William
Leonard, a young fellows from Wallng-
ford awaiting trial for burglary, who did
not attempt to get out. Holland was at
first thought 10 be dangerously injured
but although badly cut about he head he is
not seriously hurt.
From the testimony of Holland, Leonard
and one or two other prisoners who saw
the act and from what is deduced from
the circumstances shrouding the affair. it
would appear that the occurrence took
place about 3 o'clOk this morning. The
attack had evidently been planned 10 take
place on the west side of the south wing,
which i farthcst away from the sleeping
quarters of the other guards. While the
keeper was III this corridor the two men
stole up behind him ana struck him over
the head with the iron bars.
Holland fought fier,cly and managed to
let out several cries for help, which were
aided by the Outcries of several prisoners.
Mcdonald seemed to he doing most of the
fighting and in trying to keep his hand
over the keepers mouth had one of his
fingers bitten.
John shannon, prisoner in one of the
cells near where the scuffle took place,
cried to Holland to push Mcdonald up to
the door of his cell where he could grab
him and this the keeper tried to do Hut
in the confusion he made for the wrong
cell and eventually was disabled, McDoH-
aid then took away the keys and unlock
ing the door into the yard, scaled the wall
and made for Pine hill
McDogald'S cell was on the second ter
OH the east side of the south wing while
Leonard's was on the tier above In som
manner one of the men obtained a shoe
makers knife and by nicking its edge OBJ
tanned very fair saw with which two
bars in each of their doors were cut
through just below the cross bar and
wreIched off at the bottom. Tho men
have had enough opportunities slight as
they were, to communicate the necessary
plans for their escape asld one would use
the knife for a time and at their mex
meeting pass il to the other When the
! bars were cut at the top all that was nee
essary was to wrench off the bars at the
DCttom.
/ These pieces of iron abou- 40 inches long
and nearly an zen in diameter made muI-
derous weapons but it Is doubtful if the
fact that towels We're wound about them
and tied with shoe strings. will make the
case against them amy easier, The towels
slipped OFF after a few blows had been
struck and the blows were delivered with
the bare iron.
Every effort was made this morning tn
effect the capture of the escaped prisoner
The sheTiffs department was sent hot IN
/ tie trail, and officers in nearby towns
We're notified of the escape. Handblls Of
fering a reward of S25 for the arrest or in
formation which would lead to the cap
ture of the man were Distributed. and