Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-10-23
'URSUERS BENT ON DEATH
He Sends Word He Will hot Give
Up and Makes Threats.
SIOUX INDIAN TRACKS HIM
Home Of Fugitive and Those Of His
Relatives Are Searched at
Highland Falls.

Special Dispatch to The Star.
MONROE. n. Y, October 23-with
every avenue OF escape guarded by armed
men. and a circle Of fire gradually grow
ing nearer and nearer to his hiding place.
Charles Pitney. a former convict. wanted
on a charge OF having mistrated Sarah
Smith. twelve-year-old schoolgirl, 10
cornered today in the mountains near this
place.
The man Is known to be armed and has
warned his besiegers that he will never be
captured alive. and that he will fight
until he comes to his last cartridge. and
will then use this on himself. The con-
vict is hiding on a rocky ledge on the
Skuneymont hill.
Clergymen. farmers and merchants are
included in the Gordon thrown around the
hill. and despite the fact that the sheriff
of Orange county and a score Of his dep
uties are present, there is little chance
of the man being taken to jail IL he
Is captured. The fire circle started to
burn the man out will reach the top OF
the hill this afternoon.
Early today a Sioux Indian from Okla
homa. Charles Dickey. came forward and
offered his services to the chief OF police
In tracking Pitney. His offer Was ac-
was taken to the cemetery.
FICklnS up the trau from tnefc he lol-
lowed ii across fields and through the
forest, his followers constantly gaining
recruits from the earlier pursuers. who
were completely at fault. AT Skuney-
mont. a low hill covered thickly with
brush. Dickey circled the rise and an
nounced that although the track led up
the eminence the convict had gone no
further.
On being assured that the man had been
run down the sheriff disposed his forces
n Gknpav EVArv
man in the line was ordered to capture
Pitney alive. If possible. and there were
few to grumble at the plan, although they
We're not ready 70 promise peaceao'e pro-
Prisoner Sends Message.
While the Gordon was being drawn tA
q boy was brought before Sheriff Hook
with q message from the convict. Pit.
ney had come upon him in the woods and
had told him to say he would die before
submitting to capture.
Although her condition is serious. Car.
rie Smith Is said by physicians to have
a chance Of recovery.
Miss Smith. who has been under the
care of DR.. c. H. Hall of Monroe. was
able to be up and about yesterday.
She says she was so frightened when
Pitney thrust pistol In her face and
dragged her into the bushes by the road
side that she at first made no outcry
under his threat to kill her. She quickly
recovered her nerve. however, and fought
him of and gave scream that scared
the man away.
Pitney spent FIVE years In Elmira re.
formatory. and since his release year
ago has lived about this town. He V
generally known as a worthless character
and has been watched By the police.
He had no steady occupation and sup
ported himself by working at times for
farmers. He had once been employed by
Fred Smith, and the girls statement OF
the identity OF her assailant Is therefore
accepted without question.
Among those in this place who have not
Joined in the hunt the feeling is no less
high than among those who are watching
at Skuneymont. The men are determined
that Pitney shall never be lodged in the
iail alive and are ready to take him from
the sheriff should that official succeed ia
taking him away from tie posse.
Pursuers Bent on His Death.
Peter G. Lewis. a rich farmer. grand
father Of Sarah Smith. said last night:
IF met that man Pitney on the road
would shoot him like dog.
Mr. Lewis said he would offer a reward
for Pitney's capture.
The community is greatly aroused
against the fugitive. and many recall
that this was the third crime OF the kind
charged against him.
Ten years ago. 1t is alleged. he attacked
the daughter Of Jeremiah Arnold. No
legal punishment was metcd out to him.
Two years later he attacked the daughter
to the Elmira reformatory Tor an IN
determinate sentence
Three years ago he was released on
parole. returned to Highland Nils; mar
suburb Of that place known as New
City.
Since then, according to his neighbors.
he has had no settled occupation. posing
as the Village dandy" and living on
his wits. Good looking and a daredevil
when drinking he has long been feared by
the peaceful folk around him.
Carrie Smith. his twelve-ycar-old victim.
is the daughter of Mr.. and Mrs. Fred
Smith. who live just outside OF Monroe.
Mr.. Smith is a prosperous farmer.
The girl was on her way home from
school when she met Pftney near ceme-
was riding a bicycle. Dismounting he
seized her by the throat.
When she returned to consciousness she
was in a distant part Of the cemetery.
found her mother on the doorstep. She
was barely conscious. but was able to
tell the name of her assailant. whow she
knew by sight.
The father summoned physicians and
then spread the word among his neigh
bors. About fifty men quickly gathered.
Sheriff Hook and Under Sheriff Decker
placing themselves at the head OF the
posse.
1t was learned that Pitney had taken
to the mountains. and an exhausting all
night and all day search followed Vol
unteers from Newburg. Middletown.
Goshen and intermediate points Joined
the hunt but little headway was made
toward discovering the exact direction
taken by the fugitive.
Many Threats OF Lynching.
1t has been years since Orange county
had such a man hunt. and threats are
freely made that Pitney may be shot
or hung If caught The search did not
stop with the close of the day. but will
continue Throughout the night. The
posses are equipped with lanterns and .
humber Of good coon dogs and foxhounds.
The last seen Of Pitney was at O'Clock
Wednesday afternoon. when he ran across
the fields of Gilbert Earles place at the
foot of the Schunemunk mountains. three
miles from the scene Of the attack on tho
Smith girl.
Traced to Sleeping Place.
The posses early yesterday thought they
were close on the trail OF the fugitive