The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1907-01-02
WITH A KEY
OF WOOD
Ingenious Jail Delivery Here
Tuesday Morning.
"E. c. SMITH" ESCAPED
Alleged forser Disposed Of Two
Padlocks With a Piece Of
BroOmstick.

"E. G. Smith" the alleged forger
who has been 10 jail here since October
celebrated the new year Tuesday morn.
ing by perpetrating one OF the sllckest
feats OF jall-breaking in the history OF
the state. II was few minutes past
one O'Clock that Tailor Russell was
awakened by the barking OF his fox
terrier and partially dressing himself
went from his apartments TO the jail to
find that the outside door was open and
that "Smith" was gone.
When Smith" was arrested at
Manchester September 30, he had as a
companion woman who claimed TO
be his wife and who was also taken In.
70 custody as an accomplice. Since
they have been 10 Tailor Russell's
charge they have occupied the WON
ans apartment together and when the
iaiior hurried into the jail yesterday
morning he found the woman weeping
In a heart-broken fashion over her ap
parent desertlon by "Smith." II was
probably her cries that disturbed the
dog and caused the animal 10 give the
alarm, for she created such n dlsiur.
bance that guests 10 the Putnam House
we're awakened.
As soon as he grasped the situation
Mr. Russell at once summoned Nigh,
officer Patrick Brazell aud put In tele-
phone calls for Sheriff II. S. Wilson
and Deputy Sherirs Godfrey and
Nash. IL was n nasty night, therefore
difficult to tind any trace OF the miss
log man and their hunt was unsuccess.
iul.
"Smith" made his escape by means
Of wooden key fashioned out OF a
section Of broom siIcf, about seven
inches long. The outside door OF the
jail Is locked by means OF two large
jail padlocks and clamps. The clamps
are passed through the grating into
tho locks, one OF which Is attached
about foot above the Hoor aud the
other about Eve feet.
just how "Su.l,h" managed 10 make
the key IL OF course unknown, but mp
parently be had whitiled down both
ends ~ the section OF broom stick to
the required dimensions and then cut
the notches 10 IL the tumblers 10 the
padlocks. He made a key on one end
Of the broom stick for one lock anu q
Key FOR the second lock on the other
lie was aided In his work by the fac,
that both the locks aud tho key are
large, the latter being nearly a quarter
Of an Inch 10 thickness. Tho key In
one OF the pldlUcks where IL was left
by "Smllh" was found TO work perfect.
Iy.
II Is generally belle, I'd that Smith"
had bsen on, Of the building but few
minutes whom his escape was discover.
Ell. W. j. Galpln who was taking the
place Of Night Operator McGurk At the
telephone Office just across from the
court house, Is positive that he saw a
man come out OF the front door with 40
oyercoat on his arm aud salk hurried.
ly up South street to John Brani's
blacksmith shop and then turn the cor.
ner Of Elm street lie thought nothing
Of the matter At the time A. people are
coming out OF the building al oil hours
Of the night. A. soon As Tailor Rus.
sell hurried out Of the court house and
gave the alarm be At once notified che
Official OF what he had seen. an At.
tempt vas made W follow up the clue
but the fugitive was favored by ths
darkness and left no trace.
"Smlih" and his woman companion
we're arrested nj Manchester September
30. by Deputy Sheriff Covcy. On The
previous Friday the woman had Al.
tempted - obtain money at tho bank
al North Bennington on q draft drawn
on the Fourth National bank Of Bos.
ton The draft vas drawn In favor Of
y. G. Smith, was signed by A. N.
Smith 4 Co., 4 we'll known produce
hrm Of Boston, and was endorsed on
the back, Adams 4 Howard. ~ho con.
duct a general store 10 Arlington.
While the cashier OF The bank vas
talking with the woman he was called
10 the telephone by some onc who pur.
ported 10 be- Mr adams. The party
on the phone stated that q lady would
call there 10 cash n draft and that Il
vas all right. The cashier was sus-
piclous Of the voice and the endorse.
ment and would not give The woman
the money. whercupon she leit the
bank.
The couple we're arrested inside OF
~ hours AID had a hearing Ia munic
ipal court here. Tue hearing was con.
tlnued aud Sheriff Wilson took TO |
Boston some checks tat "Smith" had
passed In Arlington and Pawlct and |
found that they we're forgerIes. The
real y. q. Smith who IL n son q A. N.
Smith aud IL employed by the produce
rafuuanv go ala. keatt..l.t -. -. .