The Portland daily press., 1899-05-09
Finally Captured by DR..
Vaughn.
Big Crowd to See Him Off at
Augusta Depot.
rsPEcIAb TO THE rnEss.J

Augusta, May 6.-deorge W. fierce OF
Lewiston who has been at the insane hos
pitnl for two weeks for investigation pend
ing his trial before the Androscoggin Su-
prene court on theL charge of two at
tempted murders and seven criminal
libsls, was today taken to Auburn for
officers had hard work taking him to the
train.
Ever since he appeared In court at Au-
burn two weeks ago,he has been sham
ming the appearance Of an old man and
that he was so weak he:could. hardly stand
In court when he was arraigned he was
so weak that he:had to be supported by
awaiting his journey to this city. Today
all was changed, and he was as spry as
q 1O-year-old boy. As soon as Deputy
Sheriffs NJ. J. Gooeings and j. 6. Jordan
Of Lewiston came ont of the hospital
building he seemed to take brace and
breaking away from the officers started
up the path on the dead run.
DR.. p. H. s. Vaughan, one of the as
sistant physicians at the hospital, saw
the situation and at glance saw that
unless speedily captured Pierce would
makesgo0d his escape. He started on the
run after Pierce and rapidly gained on
him. When few feet from the escaping
prisoner the doctor made a dive and
brought his nan down, but fierce
struggle commenced.
Before help could arrive Pierce had
turned OF his captor and planted his
teeth in the neck Of the doctor. just below
the ear. He did not secure a very good
hold and as soon as the officers arrived
they quickly overpowered Pierce and
placed pair Of handouts on him. One
of the cuffs did not fasten, and just as 1t
tempt to escape, but was seized and sub
dued after another struggle in which he
fought with the strength of a madman.
Another pair OF handouts was put on
and his feet and legs securely tied to the
carriage. All the way he kept up a con-
tinual swearing and cursing at the OH
GERS for having his handouts so tight.
At the depot he attracted lot of at
teution for in the scrimmase at the hos
pital he had cut his face and the blood
had flowed over his face dyeing his white
beard in places. He called on the crowd
to witness that the handouts were out
ting into his flesh "clear to the bone. :"
To satisfy him; although the cuffs were
not too tight, they were let out one notch.
A reporter. advanced toward him and
he told him he was good fellow and
then went into bitter denunciation of
Lewiston papers and officials, including
the officers in charge of him. He swore
and cursed and made the vast crowd Of
spectators really think he was crazy, If
he is not He told the people how he
thought generally the officers were good
fellows, but since they had. been in charge
of him he though they were pretty. cheap
fellows.
When some men edged through the
crowd and looked at him. Pierce quick
ly looked up and said, "Tsn cents look
there. If you are going to look at me
you must pay for 1t. am not going to
be looked at for nothing" He then
took his hat Off and passed it round, but
received nothing. The men who had
awakened his anger drew back into the
crowd This was the only time he paid
any attention to the people who sur
rounded him while waiting for the train
to arrive.
Among other things he said he wished
heSwas in the river, that he would be bet
ter of than where he was going. Some
rerson in the crowd remarked that the
water was cold at this season Of the yeaf
Pierce quickly spoke up and said that
was what he wanted. for he was going
| to q hot.place.