The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-03-04
A DESERTER.
Priv. Comerford of the Ninth
Captured In the City.

Harry G. Comerford, 81 years old,
otherwise known as Harry G. Well
man, deserter from the Ninth United
States infantry, stationed at Madison
barracks, New York, is locked up in a
cell in the Waldo street police station.
Comerford showed more nerve than
the ordinary individual is possessed of,
and not until an exciting half hour had
passed was he finally landed in a cell.
Private Comerford enlisted at the local
recruiting office about two months ago,
and was assigned to Co. L, Ninth in
fantry He deserted Feb. IL. and I'D
to yesterday has been among the miss
ing.
Feb. % the local police received no.
tice of his desertion, ana were asked to
look out for him. Yesterday morning a
young man came to police headquarters
and asked Sergt. Htll if Comerford
was wanted for anything, saying that
he went down Front street a few min
utes before, riding a yellow-painted
bicycle.
| Sergt. Hill and Inspector Fisher
started out to look for their man. Fish
er went down Mechanic street and the
sergeant down Front. Near the corner
of Vine street, Sergt. Hill saw the vel
low wheel standing in front of res
taurant. He took up a position at the
side of the door to wait for his man
to come out, and while standing there
his informant happened along. Com
erford was pointed out, and the serg-
cant went in and accosted him Com
erford denied his identity and offered
to prove that his name was Harry G.
| Wellman.
The description accompanying the
warrant was too strong, however. and
he was conducted to the Waldo street
station. The prisoner repeated his
story, to the effect that his name was
Wellman and showed letters addressed
to him by that name. Sergt. Lansing
of the local recruiting office was called
! in, and while he thought it was Com
erford, couldn't state positively. DR..
O'Meara, who examines the applicants,
| was unable to furnish further identi-
| fication.
Arthur C. Whitcomb, paymaster at
| the W. H. Burns Co. factory, where
Comerford was formerly employed, was
| also summoned and said he thought
the man was Comerford but to settle
all doubt would send for Comerford' $
! brother, who is employed at the Burns
| factory.
The brother viewed the prisoner care
fully, and admitted that he looked like
| his brother, but said he was not sure.
The prisoner was then taken up stairs
for a conference with Chief brennan.
His brother was seated in the outer
office, while the prisoner was taken in
| to the chiefs private office. The first
thing the officers knew, the latter had
raised one of the windows and jumped
from the sill to the street below, a dis
lance of about 10 or 20 feet.
Driver Kennedy was in the stable and
saw the man as he shot past the win
dow. Comerford sprang to his feet anc
started toward Exchange street with
Driver Kennedy in pursuit In the real
of Watson's blacksmith shop the pris
loner started to make his way over the
Itops of old sheds in the neighborhood
finally making his way to the top of {
shed at Harrington Bros stable. His
next move was 20 foot jump to the
pavement on Central street.
officers started out from the centra
Office in all directions. Sergt. Hill tool
a car for Lincoln square, while the pa,
troll wagon with Officers r. Thayer
Blake and Eaton went through Unior
street. Officer Blake got off at Thomas
lstreet, and was told that man hat
been seen to run into Doon's stable
Comerford was finally located in tbs
boiler room of the stable where he was
hiding behind some blankets. The Off
Ger tried to handcuff him but the pris-
oner squirmed out of his grasp, and
made break for the door. Officer
Thayer was just entering the stable
when the prisoner shot past. He caught
the sleeve of Comerford's coat but was
unable to hold him.
The prisoner ran along Union street
| toward School where he was stopped by
Charles A. Scott, who turned him over
to the officers. Comerford was thor
oughly exhausted by his eXertion, and
could hardly speak when brought into
the station house.
| Yesterday afternoon he made pre-
tence of insanity, and asked the officers
why they scared the beautiful woman
away from his cell. Later in the day
he admitted to Sergt. Hill that his
name is Comerford, and that he is a
deserter. He will be taken to Boston
and turned over to the military au-
| thorities at Fort Warren.