Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1908-06-01
DESPERATE FIGHT IN
SOUTH PARIS JAIL,
Prisoners Assault Jai|er Farrar In At
tempt to Escape P|an Fai|s---Fore-
sight Of Wife Worthy Of Praise.

broken by the chair which was being
welded and the battle was now going
on in the dark
| Mr.. Farrar has been sick but he is
usually a husky man and the despera-
ton of his position gave him new
strength so he soon had White pushed
into this cell and the door shut Then
he pulled his gun and fired, the bullet
| striking bar on the door and drop
ping back to the floor
| Kennedy by this time had over
powered Finnen and pushed him into
another cell and Farrar went to his
aid, helping him to shut the door and
a young fellow. Il "trusty," grabbed the
keys and locked the cell door.
The other men, alarmed at the shot,
fed upstairs, to their cells.
| In the meantime, Mrs. Farrar had
heard something going on, but dared
not open the outside door. She called to
her husband, asking if he wanted to be
let through, but received no reply. Then
she ran to her house front door, which
is near the Grand Trunk station. A
train was at the station and q good
sized crowd there to whom she called
for help and the crowd come on the
run, arriving just as she let Mr.. Far
rar out. Someone had the forcthought
to telephone for doctors and two soon
arrived. Mr.. Farrar was badly cut
about the head, there being several
gashes from IL to Pr inches long.
penetrating to the skull.
White also bears marks Of Mr.. Far
rars prcwess. being cut about the head.
DIV, x,I,I, {, I,,iJ, -,
rescue, was also cut.
Mr.. Farrar today is suffering from
mis- injuries but is about and attending
to his duties as usual.
1t was found that the escape from
the cage to the corridor was made by
saving the bars. The men in some way
secured steel corset spring and an
old file and made q saw, with which
they sawed off two bars. cOncealing
the marks in the daytime with soap.
When they wrenched off the sawed
bars an opening 9Ax111A inches was
made. through which they crawled,
though it must have been a tight fit
for the largest man. Once in the corri-
der the rest of the Jail was open to
them, the door being open as stated
until locking up time at night.
When the men attacked Mr.. Farrar
they attempted to gag him with gag
made out of a piece of blanket but the
attempt failed.
1t is known that the other prisoners
knew of the plan to escape and some
would have gone out had it worked.
Kennedy says he knew of it and was
awaiting a chance to tell the jaier but
had no opportunity. Ouilette, the
trusty. also knew but had no part in
it. All the other prisoners except those
who assaulted Farrar disapproved of
using violence.
Mr.. Farrar is congratulating himself
that he took his wife's advice and left
the key in her possession, thus pre-
venting the escape of some of the pris-
oners and Mrs. Farrar is being con-
graduated and praised for her fore
sight and prompt action after discover
ing something which aroused her sus-
picions.
1t was also found that the ringlead-
ers had committed theft from another
prisoner. Peter Perry, who was in on
two liquor eases. Perry had received
some money to settle Il fine, but having
nearly stayed out the time decided to
stick it out and save the money. The
gang, however, learning that he had
the cash, stole it. Search was made but
no trace found. until Mr.. Farrar no.
ticed that the heels of pair of shoes
belonging to one Of the gang looked as
though they had been tempered with.
On taking them off, sure enough they
had been followed and the money
tucked away inside.