Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1906-11-17

1siiliutli, MI, ANoN. ~ w iluNii
Norton of the State prison at Thomas
ton, who is leading the search for the
escaped prisoner, Minot St. Clair Fran
els, was still confident late tonight that
he had the elusive negro surrounded in
Il swamp on Beauchamp point between
this village and Rockport, notwith
standing the failure of the effort to
drive Francis from his supposed cover
today. The warden had a Gordon along
the highway around the swamp and
another patrol of men along the high
way between Camden and Rockport.
and also along the shore. So many
guards and overseors from the prison
were pressed into service that the
force left at that institution was in
adequate to guard the prisoners ac-
cording to the regular routine, so the
| prisoners We're kept locked in their
cells all day and operations in the
workshops suspended.
| With all this array Of prison guards,
assisted by county deputies ana local
officers of Rockport and Camden, War
| den Norton felt that he had force
sufficient to prevent the escape of
Francis from the swamp tonight and
| to insure his capture if he should at
| tempt to break cover by day light.
The fact that there has been no re-
| pert from the fugitive since morning
is regarded by the warden as strength
ening the belief that the man is still
in hiding in the Beaucllamp swamp.
/ Had hp arIlnrop1 nd ~
evadinS tho guards who have been
watching for him throughout the day
he could hardly have escaped the
vigilance of people of the countrysidc
who arc thoroughly aroused TO the
presence of the desperate, continually
on the lookout for him.
| The last reported appearance OF
| Francis, which seems well authenticat-
cd, was at about 80 this morning.
when two of the mon who had been OH
guard at BcauChamp point all night
saw u person carrying dress suit ease
| through Il grove on the point ana 90
| ing in the direction of this village. At
q distance the person looked like Il
whit" man. and he WAS allowed to pass
| unmolCstcd, but Il short tine later, the
guards discovered evidence which con-
| nrmcd that the man was Francis, who
| mad secured a change Of clothing
| throughout, had filed Il dress suit case
with stolen food and had probably
rubbed his face with flour to make
! him resemble a white man at 4 dis
| lance. 1t is believed that Francis did
not 90 far toward Camden. ana that
realizing that the road was patrollcd
l ny pl11rIc
| Two gunshots were heard late to-
| night on the CalderwOod range lead
ing 10 Beauchamp point. but Warden
| Norton, who investigated. was nable
70 learn the source Of the disturbance.
| The warden is in charge Of the armed
| patrols at Beauchamp point, while the
| men stationed along the road between
| the point and this village are under the
direct command of Postoffice Inspector
! w. Is. Robinson Of Portland. INSPECTOR
Robnson assisted in the capture of
Francis after the latter had broken in
| to the postOfiice at Red Peach. Me-. and
he is well acquainted with the appear
| ance of the fugitive.
AS an outcome of a request for mi
litia aid made today by Warden Nor ?
ton. it was announced tonight that Ad-
jutant General Augustus B. Farnham
Will come here tomorrow and confer
with Governor Cobb at Rockport relat-
ing to the ACCESSIBILITY of calling out a
company Of the National Guard to help
in the hunt for the desperate.
Late tonight every road leading from
Beauchamp point was thoroughly pa
trolled, but no trace of the escaped
prisoner had been reported.
Thomaston. Me, Nov. 16.-Minot st.
Clair Francis, the negro convict, who
escaped from the State prison at Thorn
aston last Monday night is proving to
be such an elusive and tricky individ-
ual that Warden Norton issued drastic
| instructions to his deputies today. The
deputies have been ordered to SHOOT
| to MAIN ell persons who fail to re-
spOnj to n challenge and to "shoot to
kill" if Francis offers any resistance.
The pursuing officers have been with
| in speaking distance of the negro on
several occasions and last night the