Daily Kennebec journal., 1899-08-25
IS AGAIN FREE.
George Dryden Escapes from the
Kennebec Jail.
Saws Through Lock and Bar, Jumping Iron
window In Daytime.


gusta Jail, Monday afternoon, by George
Dryden who was awaiting trial for lar
ceny committed in Gardiner, last
March. Dryden sawed through lock
and then a bar. After doing this he let
himself down from a second story win
dow in broad daylight and has disap-
peared like needle in a haystack. The
matter has been kept quiet by the Off
cials until Thursday. in the hopes that
they would catch him.
Dryden it will be remembered went
to Gardiner from Lynn, Mass, with a
young man named Patten.. They ar
rived in Gardiner, March Is, and went
to Mrs. Harmon's boarding house on
Water street. They took their meals
at Goodrich's restaurant. Dryden paid
| the bills and was anxious to talk with
4 his casual acquaintance while Patten
was very quiet.
Dryden transacted the house, it is al
| legged, taking slverware and clothes,
and they both skipped out. They left
on the night freight, March 16. and at
Newburyport it is said they parted
company. City Marshal Drake was at
work on the case and on April 3. re-
ceived word that Dryden had been ar
rested in Lynn. He Immediately went
after him and arrived in Gardiner the
next day with his prisoner
Dryden was given a hearing and
bound over to appear at the September
| term Of court. He was given to Deputy
Marshal Andrews TO bring to Jail to
await trial. At the corner Of Capitol
street when the car stopped to allow a
jumped past Deputy Andrews. the con
ductor and a travelling man. who all
tried to grab him.
He ran down Capitol street and for
a moment the passengers thought the
officer was to shoot as he pulled his
gun. He however returned it to his
pocket and started in pursuit. He
could not overtake the man and lost all
track of him at the railroad track. The
| the case and they could not locate him
that night"
This was on Tuesday morning. Dry
den worked around the city and went
toward Sidney. He slept in a barn
part Of that night and late in the night
crossed the river on the fast melting
ice. A larger man could not have done
this and by crossing he threw the Off
GERS off the track for they were hot on
his trail when he crossed.
City Marshal Drake of Gardiner
started for Watervlle, Wednesday
morning, and just after leaving Nassal-
boro, the conductor of the train asked
him why he did not go to the rear car
and watch for his man out of the rear
windows He decided to do this and
just as he stepped to the rear he saw
Dryden sitting on the rear platform.
He reached down and collared his man.
Dryden was ironed and brought to Jail
where he has remained until Monday.
1t is the custom at the kennebec Jail
TO allow the men on one side out of
their cells at 3 o'clock for them to take
their bath and wash their clothes. Dry
den was out with the rest of the prison.
ers on his side. He walked up the
steps to the second story and went
round on the side gallery. He had a
saw with him with which he cut the lock
has not been used for years. This cell
has window on Court street and one
facing the alley in the rear of the Jail.
These windows have inch iron bar graf
ings and on these Dryden commenced
his work of escaping after closing the
door to prevent the noise of his cutting
to be heard.
Through one of these bars Dryden
sawed and then cutting a rope from a
window tied it to another bar. He
pushed the severed bar to one side and
squeezed through. He then pushed up
the window and lowered himself to the
ground. Some children We're at play
but they did not give the alarm. This
was about o'clock.
Willard l.. McFadden, the sheriff's
son, came up the hill. half an hour
later, and discovered the rope and open
window He Immediately gave the
alarm and it was found Dryden was
the missing man. Sheriff McFadden
was i'll in bed and as Marshal Drake
knew the man best of anybody he was
notified and sent in search of him.
There is absolutely no trace Of him
from the time he jumped from the
window.
Marshal Drake went to Lynn and
visited the former haunts of Dryden
but failed to locate him and 1t is
thought he is in hiding in this vicinity
at some farm house. 1t is supposed he
secured the saw from among the tools