Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1906-11-19
REPORTED NEAR TOGUS.

Word was received at Augusta police
headquarters Sunday forenoon that a
man strongly resembling Minot St.
Clair Francis, the mulatto convict, who
escaped from the Maine State prison at
Thomaston Monday, Nov. l, had been
seen in the vicinity of the Togus Home
by reliable parties. Officers Fletcher
and Farren Immediately armed them
selves with Winchesters and securing 4
rig started for the SnoWplow.
The first stop was made at the home
of g. +. Cooper at the junction of the
Thomas ton and Gardiner roads Grover
Cooper. Is years of age and son of the
Storckceper, was the only one at home.
He was asked if Francis had paid them
visit and replied that q strongly
built man of dark complexion, answer
ing the descriptions that have appeared
in the press. called at the store about
245 O'Clock Saturday and after looking
around cautiously entered and asked
rather hurredly for some crackers and
cheese. Young Cooper gave him gen
erouS slice of cheese and some square
soda biscuits. Meanwhile he looked him
over thoroughly.
The stranger was dressed in brown
derby hat. white collar and black neck
tie. brown ovcrcoat, dark blue clothes.
black shoes and rubbcrs. His face was
quite dark, the forehead high and the
eyes peculiar. Cooper remarked eSpe-
cially that the eyebrows were "hiSh.'
or well up on his forehead. The fellows
lips were thick, like a Negroes ana his
hair appeared tinged with gray. Cooper
did not notice whether his hair was
kinky or not.
After Mr.. Cooper finished his minute
description of his strange visitor. he
was shown the circular sent broadcast
by the authorities 1T Thomaston. Plac-
ing his hand over the lower portion of
the face. leaving the eyes and nose eN-
posed, Cooper declared that it was the
image Of the man who bought the
crackers. The lips and chin. he was not
SO sure about.
When asked how tall the stranger
was. Cooper pointed to Officer Farren
ard said that he was just about his
height and about his build, though per-
haps a little thicker set.
While in the store Francis, If it were
he. displayed a willingness to talk.
saying that his home was in Illinois
and that he drifted into Rockland. but
that he got "tripped up" there and was
on his way to Augusta and was walk
ing to save money. 1.-THE people back
along act scared to DEATH said he. in
dicating that he had applied to houses
Cos m haen refused A
of the Kennebec Journal lay on the
counter and the stranger picked it up
and read every word in it that related
to Francis and his escape, remarking
at the close:
THAT fellow is too smart for them
and will get away all right. He's got
decoys out probably and they can't
catch him"
After standing about the store few
minutes and warming himself he hur-
ricd I'D the road toward Augusta.
Young Cooper thought the man
strongly resembled the much-wanted
Francis, but the press stated that ne
was cornered in Rockport and so he
did not pay as much attention to the
incident as he otherwise would have
done However, he told people who
called and described the man several
times. His story was clean cut, con-
else and entirely free from any color
ing or sensationalism, just straight
forward narrative of the incident with
the regret that he didn't pay any more
attention to the stranger.
After another hour Of fruitless rid
ing about the country, the trail was
picked up again at the home of George
Henry on the Gardiner road a short