Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-02-11
MAKES HIS ESCAPE.
Edward Waters Takes Leave
from CharIestown Prison.
Probably Assisted by Some Persons
on the Outside.
First Break Since That Of Notorious
"sewer Gang"

Boston, Feb. 10.-The first escape
from the State prison since the famous
Sewer gang made their way to lib
erty IL years ago. was effected, tonight.
when Edward Waters. % years old.
who was sentenced eight months ago
i To a term Of from five and half years
| to eight years for burglary in Boston
and Cambridge. successfully eluded
The officers and made a bold dash for
| freedom.
Waters is believed to be a native Of
New York, although on the prison
books his address was given as Ham
cock street, Boston. Inquiry. tonight.
disclosed that he lived only a week at
the Hancock street address.
Since his incarceration at the Char
| lestown prison, Waters had been at
work in the barber shop and as he was
exceptionally good at that work he
generally shaved General Benjamin F.
Bridges. the warden Of the prison.
A little before S o'clock. tonight.
Warden Bridges sent for Waters to
come to the prison Office in the rotunda
and perform his customary duties.
Walter S. Watson Of Lowell, a men,
Der Of the executive council, was cali
| ing on Warden Bridges at the time.
| When Waters entered the prison office.
Councillor Watson was preparing to
leave the institution. The door was
opened for Mr.. Watson to pass out.
but beth he and Warden Bridges step
ped into a side room for moment.
While there they heard the clang of a
heavy door closing and when the
| councillor emerged a moment later
| Waters was nowhere to be seen.
| Immediately all the prison officials
were summoned and search for the
fugitive was begun. When an inquiry
was made outside the prison the OH
GERS were told by some boys that
man wearing i long rubber coat had
scaled the wall Of the prison yard. AS
cording to the story of tie boys the
man was aided by some person outside
the walls. The boys said that rope
was thrown over the wall by L con-
rederate on the outside and that the
man was enabled thereby to climb TO
the ton of the wall and then drop to
The ground where he entered a car
rage that was waiting and vas drlVeh
rapidly away.
Warden Bridges said that there
, could be no truth in the boys story.
The warden claimed that it would
have been impossible far Waters to
reach the prison yard from the Office
, in the rotunda and even if he had been
able to do so, it would be Impossible
10 reach the street from the wall on
account of the way in which the streets
and prison grounds are laid out.
It was discovered soon after Waters
escape that before leaving the prison
the man stepped into coat room III the
office and took q rubber coat belong
ing to an official that was hanging
, there
Warden Bridges said he did not
. think it likely that Waters was assist
r ed by any confederate, but that If such
was the case the confederate was a
, woman. Since Waters has been an
! inmate of the PRISON, ne mas had no
callers with the exception of q woman
who has been to see him several times.
Her last visit to the prison was made
about a week ago The prison officers
know her name and they think che is
a resident of Eoxbury. but her address
is unknown.
Since Waters has been in the prison
he had been I model prisoner. His
work in the barber shop was easy and
gave him some few privileges not ger
Ierallv accorded convicts. 1t was one
, OF these privileges that he took adj
Vantage of tonight and which enabled
him to escape. The prison officials say
that he will probably be recaptured
soon.