Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1900-05-03

son, Frank, escaped from Wlnosor couh-
~ Jail at Woodstock last week Monday
night. They were pursued by officers and
on Friday morning, in the woods on
South hill, Stock bridge, they were over
taken. Being summoned to surrender,
Frank Shaw shot Deputy Sheriff George
w. Hoffman OF White River Junction
with rife. Hoffman died Friday night.
The fugitives eluded the other officers and
escaped to the mountains that border
Windsor, Rutland and Addison counties.
This is the brief story OF a deed OF out
lawry such as Vermont has seldom, II
ever. witnessed within its borders. IL re-
calls the exploits Of the james boys. 1t
has stirred this section as nothing has
stirred it since the celebrated Amy muir
der at Hanover.
The shaws had been numbering and
farming in Stockbridge and vicinity Of
late, coming here from New York state,
where it is said they had bad reputation.
Last season they had the care Of the Bal
lard farm in Stockbridge, making their
home at Joseph Caswells.
In the latter part OF February they were
arrested for killing deer out OF season.
They furnished Dau, but, their premises
having been searched and several missing
robes, harnesses, etc, being found, they
were arrested for larceny and committed
to the county jail.
Keeper Thomas did not coutine them IN
the new "cage," as they were In for minor
offences but gave them the liberty OF the
Jail. They managed TO bend or pry off the
bars from one OF the windows in the third
story and, making a rope OF bed blankets,
they slid down IL TO lower roof below,
thence to the ground.
The escape was discovered by the night
Waterman, Clinton Mower, at about four
o'clock a. m,
SEARCH BEGINS.
Search began at once aud as soon as pos
sible notice was sent by telegraph and tele.
phone in every direction. The first mail
also carried postal cards with descriptions
Of the men, and Offering reward for their
apprehension.
What followed is thus described by
Sheriff Spafford 1--WE first got track OF
the Shaws in North Barnard, where they
routed up the family OF James Hatch at
$40 Tuesday morning. They had former
IN boarded there. They explained being
out OF Jail by the statement that they had
secured bail and were bound for Bellows
Falls, where employment awaited them.
They said that they desired to get some
things out OF their trunks, upstairs, and
Mr.. Hatch, supposing everything was
straight enough, told them to go ahead.
Father and SOM marched right upstairs
without waiting for light.
"Mr. Hatch thought they would need
some light and in a few minutes went
after them with lantern. He came upon
them in season to see them showing car
tridges into their Winchesters. They fill
ed the magazines full and also took with
them one full box OF cartridges contain
ing 100 rounds.
Mr. Hatch asked them il they would
not stop for breakfast, but they said
40. They must catch the morning train
down from Bethel, and they walked of
in the direction they must have taken
had this been the fact. Bot this was a
ruse, for after covering 10 or II rods they
were out OF sight from the house, and for
time all trace Of them was lost.
"Jailer Thomas had notified me OF the
escape and went out with Deputy Paul
Tinkham of Rochester, the officer who had
arrested the Shaws, ard Constable Ell.
Putnam OF Barnard. We searched all the
first day without result and then return
ed to the junction to await developments,
arriving on Wednesday.
FOLLOWING THE TRAIL.
"On Thursday, Deputy TInkham heard
hat the tugitives had been seeO IN the
Stony Brook region. Two men stopped
at viii Locke's and wanted to buy a loaf
OF bread. When they learned that the
bread was only five cents they asked for
two loaves and we're accommodated. Each
OF the men had a rifle. The Shaws, when
they left Woodstock Jail, had about 20
cents. Further up the brook from there
the men tried to buy some meat.
"Our party now included DR.. Hoffman,
Eugene A. Thomas, the iailer, and Paul
nnkham OF Rochester, all deputies,
Constable Eugene Wilson of Stockbridge, /
and Mr.. Whitaker, Rochester friend OF
Tinkham.
eve covered the Stony Brook neigh
borhood thoroughly, making enquiry at
every house and search Of every out I
building. After the meat incident, our
first trace was fount at Goodells. No
one bad been seen there, but during the
night some one had entered the sap house
and taken some syrup aud tin pail.
"The search went on. We learned that
on Thursday forenoon two men bad been
seen from Cathern's place. Each bad a
ribs and one OF them had something that
glistened in the sun like the stolen PAL.
The providers did not venture close to
Cathern's, and they were not recognized.
We remained out that night until between
and 10 O'Clock, wi hen we went to Pitts
field and turned in.
"On Friday, the day OF the murder, we
made an early start, getting of at about (
in the morning. We were Joined by
Deputy Sheriff George Chedel OF Rutland
county, and went towards Stockbridge
Common at once. There, about three
miles out, we split mp. We had already
been over some OF the ground, but
patiently and carefully we examined every
house and outbuilding in the section I'M
I'll we were almost back to Cathern's.
"Suddenly, OF to the right and up South
hill, shots were heard. 10 was only seven
in the morning, and we rightly judged
that the shooting was worthy OF some
investigation.
THE SHOOTING.
$50 we started up the mountain-Hoh
man on the outside OF the posse, nearest
the clearing. / was next, and the rest be-
low. On the way up ! occasionally saw
Hoffman but none OF the others. / had
almost reached the top when / saw the
track OF a man in the snow. Further on
were a few drops OF blood. About a rod
away, now, smoke WAS coming from a
clump OF spruces. Hoffman was about
five rods away and ] motioned 20 him.
lie came down to me and saw the smoke.
We couldn't reach the spot where We
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