The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1899-02-23
WITH A ROPE =
And A Rifle.
BIodgett Attempted TO Take
Prisoner From Sheriff.
HIS "MEN" DID NOT RESPOND.
Then BIudgeti Was Pulled Into The Crowd
and Out Of Way Of the Sheriff.
he WILL Be ARRESTED WHEN FOUND
Sheriff Was Taking George 1Ohsriy, Who Shot
fred kurphy, 10 Courtroom For Examination.
hhsn Ha Was intercepted By Hlodge!i.

Waterbury. VI, Feb. 23.-While
Sheriff Graves was conducting George
Doherty, who, it is claimed, shot Fred
Murphy i'm a quarrel last Saturday
night. TO the court room here today,
Randall Blodgett citizen OF this place.
armed with rifle and a rope, stopped
the sheriff and demanded that the
prisoner be delivered into his hands.
The sheriff drew a revolved TO defend
himself and his prisoner, and Blodgett,
after calling for his men" who failed
TO respond, was pulled into the crowd
which had gathered to see the prisoner,
and he disappeared. AS soon as Sheriff
Graves could dispose Of his prisoner
safely, he started in search of Blodgett
but up to the time of opening of court
this afternoon had not found him.
Doherty was being taken TO the court
house for arraignment. lie was brought
from the Jail in a team and as is his
practice, Sheriff Graves slipped hand
cuff around the prisoners wrist ana
fastened IL to his own. When the team
reached the scene of the court, whlch
was TO be held i'm one of the school
buildings a great crowd had congfe-
gated 10 see the prisoner as he crossed
the yard from the street TO the door
way.
Just as the sherffs team stopped
Randall Blodgett, citizen who always
had been I'm the highest repute, stepped
out from the door of the building arm
cd with a rifle and carrying belt MI
ed with cartridges and anew rope over
his shoulders. He stepped quickly up
rI1F. i-
has just alighted from the wagon ana
presenting the muZzle of the gun he
said. Il will take care of him.
Sheriff Graves chained as he was by
one hand was at a disadvantage, but
he seized the muzzle of the gun with
his disengaged hand and forced II
downward Blodgett wrenched Ii
away and repeated his demand for the
delivery of the prisoner Sheriff Graves
again grabbed the gun and thrust IL
aside. Blodgett shouted "Where are
my men,"
The crowd which had viewed the pro-
ceedings silently made no motion 10
respond but Blodgett stood his grounu.
Tho moments diversion, however, had
givan the sheriff n chance to draw his
revolver with his free hand so that
when Blodgett turned from the crowd
to the sheriff he looked into the muzZle
of the officers weapon. The sheriff OBJ
served with urmistakable emphasis III
YOU make another move I'll put pull
let through you, / propose TO defend
my man..
AT that moment some one in the
crowd stepped out and grabbed Blod-
gett and drew him in among the spec
tators. while another wrenched MS rlne
out of his hands. Although the men
had not responded TO Blodgetts can
they closed in about him when he was
| once i'm the crowd and while Sherlh
| Graves was hustling his prisoner to-
wards a place of safety, Blodgett dls-
| appeared. -,
As soon as Sheriff Graves had dis
| posed of Doherty. he started i'm pursuit
| of the man. Murphy. the victim OF the
affair. was reported az Just alive AT
! noon today.
! The arraignment Of Doherty was be-
! gun shortly after his arrival at the
/ court room. \ large number OF WIZ
1 nesses were present and IL seemed
! probab bic that their examination Would
/ take UP considerable time