Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-01-28
SHORT LIBERTY
Joseph Bradley and John Magic
Overpowered Guard
At the City Jail at Saco, Me-,
"Wednesday Night.
Men Taken Into Custody at kenne-
bunkport, This Morning.

Saco. Me, Jan. 2'.-Joseph Bradley
md John Maggie, both of whom were.
yesterday, sentenced to one years i'm
prisonment for burglary, overpowered
The guard at the city jail at midnight,
pounded him into Unconsciousness ana
after locking him in q cell escaped.
Another prisoner, Charles Chg sSe.
VINO vas serving 4 sentence of one year
tor larceny, also left the Jail.
Bradley ana Maggie We're to have been
"emoved to The state prison at Thomas
ton, tomorrow.
Owing to the cells being cold, the
,idor until a late hour At midnight
iuard Frank Murphy entered the cor
'idor to escort the men to their cells,
when both prisoners sprarg upon him.
Fha guard fought them until he was
rendered insensble by being struck
Ipon rne head with 4 bottle. He was
thrown into Il cell and the cell door
locked. Taking the guards keys, the
prisoners left the building. followed by
'iasse, and locked the door after them
Murphy was discovered an hour later
by his wife. His condition is serious.
Later the fugitives were seen by train
men on the track two miles east of Ken
nebunk and officers started at once in
pursuit. The escaped prisoners are not
armed, bat are known to be desperate
men, and the officers anticipate Il lgnt
With them.
Mnrn6ry lone with the tho
time Of the assault. Bradley and Maggie
had been in the Jail some time awaiting
trial. and though both men had bad rep
utations, Guard Murphy anticipated no
-roublc with them. Their plan for escape,
howeVer. had been carefully thought out.
Early in the eI ening the men complained
chat the cells occupied by them in the
second tier We're cold and ASKED permits
sion to spend the evening in the corridor
where there was n fire. Murphy consent
ed and unlocked their cell doors.
Later he also allowed Chase to leave
his cell. For several hours the three men
we're alone in the corridor. Just before
midnight he told the men he would have
20 lock them in their cells. and as soon
as h started with them to climb up the
stairs leading to the second tier where
heir cells We're located Half way up tac
'tairs Bradley. who was behind the gu nd
seized the latter BY the throat and threw
aim backwards to the floor. AS he die 50
le exclaimed: I'm sorry, Murphy, but
I've got to do it, Magic also pulnceG
upon the guard and a desperate though
uneven struggle cnsucd. The guard at
tempted to cry out and Maggie thrust mis-
hand in Murphy's mouth. Murphy is Il
powerful man and was almost hold
nS his own when Bradley got
bottle with which he pounded the
guards head until the officer was I'M
conscious. The prisoners dragged the
enseless form into an open cell, AMI.
| ahing his keys, locked him in. They
hen left the jail by the front door
ar"fuliy locking it after them.
Murphy's Wife, meantime, who was
II their home near the Jail had been
attracted by what she thought were
ries from the Jail and went to the
Jail door and attempted to open it..
calling to attract the attention OF her
usband she became alarmed and
.fter repeated efforts succeeded III
lhbing 10 the Jail window through
which she saw the insensible form of
her husband stretched out on the
ioor Of the cell room. She hurried 10
lily hall and alarmed the officers there
Tho returned with her to the jail and
Elected an entrance by forcing a
window. They found Murphy bleed
ns from cuts and bruises about the
ace and hands.
He was removed to his homa and
given medical attention. Later he re-
ived and told the details of the en-
'Ounter.
posse Of officers was hastily formed
and the search for the fugitives begun.
The crew of Il freight train reported
'avinG seen the men walking on the
rack two miles east of Kennebunk and
re police Of that town We're notified.
Bradley and NagIe, who claimed
heir home, to have been formerly
Providence. r. L., were yesterday, sem
fenced by Judge Spear of the supreme
curt to one year each III the State
prison at Thomaston for burglary. The
men were convicted of breaking into
Berwick on the night OF Sept. o. They
were captured after long chase by
Hr. Lynch and members of train
rev. Other men. alleged to have CO.
,perated with them, escaped.