The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1902-12-25
DAVID LEWIS.
The Noted Ilighwayman and
COunterfeiter
CONTINUED from last weekly

ner, and Mr.. Hendrick, to say,
that in conducting me from Car
lisle TO Cham bersburg, they treat
cd me as we'll as / could expect,
particularly the latter. In the
afternoon of the same day that l
was lodged in the Jail at Cham
bersburg, where l was shortly
after my confinement gratitied
with a visit from his excellency
Gov. Findley, who opportunely
had arrived at Chambersburg
nearly about the same time. He
condoled with me on my present
misadventure, and after the jailer
and spectators had left the room,
we had a private interview, dur
ing which we conversed freely on
different subjects, not necessary
now to mention, but any person
will wrong His Excellency, if he
supposes the conversation related
to an office. He never promised
me any such thing, nor did | ask
one of him. His Excelleucy did
not remain with me longer than
half an hour, and on leaving the
room, he gave me an affectiOnate
squeeze of the hand.
| did not long remain in con-
finement before | tricked Mr..
Leader who was confident / would
not leave him. My escape was
owing to the negligence of the
jailer, who in his hurry to see
fight that was going on in the
street forgot to lock the door of
the convicts, contenting himself
with boiling it, and fastening the
wicket door. or rather window
with the key tina. unlocked the
other rooms, he omitted to return
and secure the door in the usual
way. During the day the prison
ers had fixed soap string over
the top Of the door, and conceal
ed it in a crack on the outside,
and by means of loop or slip
knot, they succeeded in pulling
out the key, the plan succeeding
they unlocked the door through
the window; having thus got to
the entry and having the neces
sary key to open the door OF the
room in which | was confined, /
was in this manner liberated, and |
springing the lock Of this door
leading into the women's apart.
ment, and the door leading from
thence into the yard, as well as
that of the gate opening into the
street, luckily | and four other
criminals effected our escape un-
discovered by anybody, about two
o'clock in the morning. We pro.
ceeded about half a mile, and
hnding my hobbies troublesome,
we entered pine thicket, where
by means of an axe and cold |
chlsel, extlicated myself from
the irons. While thus employed |
we heard distinctly the noise of
lhe town bells, which were ring
ing on the occasion to alarm the
inhabitants and arouse them to
pursuit, and could not help laugh
ing very heartily, notwithstand-
ing the terror we were in, at the
confusion and modification our
escape must produce among the
wise citizens of Cham bersburg.
mere is no truth in the supposi.
e'on, that | had bribed the taller,
or gave him any directions about
ms geStlng fifteen hundred dol
iars' Which it said, had conceal
Gu III the pines, south of the Wal.
"V oottom road. | never hid |
any money there, nor promised
mr' Leader any bribe whatever.
H0 always treated me with hu.
"'Vy as long as was his pris-
ner' and is wrongfully accused.
Il anybody suspects my escape
W "s owing to his criminality.-
a ms remained all that day in a rye
nelu' and at night pursued our
tUurse tp'a 50 to Doubling Gap. Near
.u's place is a cave in a cliff in
;aa,,. sns mountain, formed by pro
lsc'lng as rock, and here we remain.
sa Tor several days. After re-
sn'ng ourselves, and I had
succeeded y in procuring a change
~ clothes, I disguised myselr as
nEa ~