Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1899-03-01
Attempted Rescue Of a Prisoner.

The preliminary hearing in the case OF
Charles Doherty, charged with the WIN
shooting of Fred Murphy Saturday, fepru'
arv Is, at the farm of j. K. Pixley near the
Bolton Falls electric plant, was opened
last Thursday in Waterbury.
Doherty was brought from Jail IN team
Sheriff Graves slipred handcuh around the
prisoners wrist and fastened 1t 10 ms own
When the team reached the scene OF court,
great crowd had congregated 10 see me
prisoner, Just as the sheriff's team stopped,
Randall Blodgett, a citizen always before OF
the highest ,epute, stepped from the door OF
the building armed with rifle and carrying
belt of cartridges, and new rope over MS
shoulder. He stepped quickly un TO tne sner,
i'll, who with the prisoner had just angnted
from the wagon, and presenting the mozzle
of the gun said al will take care OF him,
indicating Doherty,
Sheriff Graves, chained as he was by one
hand, was at q disadvantage but selzeu the
muzzle of the gun with his d'sengageo hand
aud forced it downward. Blodgett wrenched
delivery of the prisoner. Sheriff Graves
| again grabbed the gun and thrust 1t ASIDE -,
B'odgett shouted, Where are my men
The crowd made no motion to respond, but
Blodgett stood his ground. The moments
diversion, however, had given the sherl1
a chance to draw his revolver with MS free
hand, SO that when B'odgett turned from the
crowd to the sheriff he looked into the muz
zle of the officers weapon. The sherln Oh
served with unmistakable emphasis:
eff you make another move I'll put q Dnl'
let through you. l propose to defend my
/ men" At that moment some one IN the
crowd stepped out and grabbed BIodgett and
another wrenched the rifle out of his hands
Although the men had not responded to
Blodgett's call they closed in about him when
he was once in the crowd and while Sherlf
Graves was hustling the prisoner towards
a place of safety, Blodgett disappeared: 20,
understanding between Blodgett and some
citizens, shown by the call for men, but the
citizens deny this.
Blodgett has escaped and says he will not
be taken alive. A warrant is out TOR his
arrest 1t cannot be learned that he wa:
a particular friend of Murphy's or that he
| even knew him. The rest of the mob nave
not been taken as yet. Blodgett is married
man and has family and has always borne
| a good reputation.
Blodgett gave himself up to the authorities
Saturday. He states to the police in explana
| ii m of his action that on Wednesday anc
Thursday he listened to some bows condemns
ing the action of Doherty and exercising the
desire to lynch him. AS Biodgett was known
among the boys as practical ,krr, it was
not long before he headed the list, making
| arrangements for the lvpching and organic
ing party Of dozen men to carry out the
suggestions, all concerned signing theil
names to paper. Blodgett claims to have
had no serious intention and the fact Of his
having a good reputation and that the fficel
knew him is all that saved his life. With the
facts all in hand the sffair appears to be
foolhardy joke, and as Blodgett's Iifis was
not loaded this assertion is strengthened
The sheriff, however, will prosecute him as
| a guarantee that there NAV be no practca
joking of the kind in the future.