Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1911-11-01
BREAK JAIL
Gardiner Yeggman and
Togus Liquor Dealer
Escape from County Workshop
With the Aid Of Key.
Gray, the Yeggman, Is a Boon Com.
panion Of Joe Girard.

Frank Gray, a Gardiner yeggman,
and Robert Packard, a Togus liquor
dealer, each of whom were serving a
years sentence in the Kennebec coun-
ty jail, are now at large. Packard has
been in Jail on a previous sentence at
the same time the missing Joseph Cir
ard and is well acquainted with him.
The two men escaped from the
workshop at the close of the days
work, Monday night. but their escape
did not become generally known until
Tuesday morning. Turnkey Choate,
who was in charge of the Jail at the
time of the escape of the prisoners,
which occurred during the temporary
absence of Sheriff Richardson, eX-
planned to Journal reporter how the
two men had escaped.
According to the information given
out at the Jail, Overseer Oscar Child,
who has charge of the workshop,
went out somewhat earlier than usual
and as he did 50 informed Charles
Rathborne, his assistant, that he
would leave his key to the rear door
of the shop in the drawer of his desk.
lSubsequent events show that this re-
mark must have been overheard by
| the two convicts, who afterwards es-
capped.
| Just a few moments before the time
of closing the days work Rathborne's
attention was called to a scuffiing by
tsome of the workmen some distance
| from his desk, which had evidently
| been previously arranged. and while he
| was looking after that either Gray or
| Packard distracted the key from the
| drawer A few moments later Rath-
borne telephoned to the turnkey that
Child had not left the key as he
/ agreed TO and it was suggested in Il
| Joking way that he be fined for the
| oversight sssai
Gray and Packard evidently remain
| ID in line as the men filed out until
| Rathberne had seen that the back
| loor of the workshop, which the key
/ Tilted had been secured and the men
/ had got almost to the passageway and
| hen lodged among the bags or under
| bench. In some way a mistake had
| been made in the tally of the prison
ars, so that the number given to the
turnkey was two less than were ac-
| tually working and it was not until
flew moments later that a rumor
reached Rathhorne that one of the
wear men ndu tSGdDtd ne
V notified the turnkey, who at once
had the men filed from their cells 10
the tables and found that Gray and
Packard We're missing.
A hurried return TO the workshop
by the Jail officials disclosed the rear
door of the workshop open and the
missing key in the lock. The two pris-
sners made their escape so quickly
hat no one saw them when they made
their bold break for liberty.
Frank Gray. who came to Gardiner
rom Roxbury or South Boston,
Mass, is 25 years old, height, feet, 8
inches, blue eyes and dark brown hair
With ruddy complexion scroll and
wreath with the letters F. Gray are
marked in India ink upon the left
forearm He weighs between 100 ana
t7G pounds and is one of the three
leggmen connected with the robbery
If stores at Gardiner, for which he
vas sentenced at the September term
# the superior court TO year at hard
abor in the county jail.
Robert Packard, who has previously
served time in Thomaston for the lar
ceny of a team, is 50 years old, feet
80 inches in height, has brown eyes,
With dark brown or black hair and is
If very dark complexion.
He was given four months in Jail
in the Augusta municipal court, June
Il, for the illegal possession of intox-
icating liquors and was also being held
In Jail for failure to furnish bond OF
$500 to keep the peace for one year.
Both men are dangerous characters
md Packard has 1t suspended case
hanging over him in the Augusta mu-
lieipal court for threatening TO do
bodily harm of Mary Carson, the
mother of Rose Carson, by whom he
lad been employed