The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1911-07-27

: i'iAoi " al u vi lHe Dldte ASyiuU lot
the Insane at Augusta a week ago,
lay unconscious close by the wall of
that institution for an hour and a
half as the result of falling two stor-
les, according to the story which he
.old Sheriff John A. Mooers Sunday
after he had been arrested in the kit
chen at the home of Walter II. Nc
Intire, a Norridgewock farmer.
Reynolds said that he and Conant
made a rope of sheeting and lowered
1t from the fourth story where they
were confined. Conant made tn,
descent to the ground safely. bu
when the older man started to gt
down the rope parted about half wa,
and he landed on his head and shoul
ders. He remembered nothing NOR.
for some time and when he recovered
consciousness his companion told hin
how long he had been lying there
Reynolds shoulder is still pretty lame
from the fall and he also has a bruise
on his nose.
His capture was effected within a
short time after Sheriff
Mooers had been notified that a man
answering a description of the one for
whom a big posse searched several
days last week had been hired by Nc
1ntire to work about his place. The
sheriff secured an automobile and ac-
companied by Deputy Sheriff Henry
d. Brofield OF Fairfield he covered the
distance to the Mclntire farm in COM
few minutes, arriving there
about S.45. 1t was not long after
that Reynolds admitted that he was the
man and he was brought
back here and placed in the Somer-
set county Jail. Conant was captured
1t the home of his mother in Farm
ngton the other day and returned to
he asylum in Augusta, and the search
or Reynolds, who Was considered
very dangerous fellow to be at large,
was given up. Communities outside
Of Augusta had been in a state of ter
ror since the two men made their est
cape and very few people were able
to sleep at night time with the
thought that the two maniaes might
be close by Now that they have been
the farmers will breathe
easier.
HOW THEY ESCAPED.
The story which Reynolds tells o
the escape and wanderings of the pal
is an interesting one. In some manne
they had secured a wrench at the asy
lum and as they were allowed consid
cradle freedom about the institution
they had planned their escape to
nicely. 1t was a few minutes after Il
o'clock Sunday night, July 16, tina
they broke out. They waited unit
the guard who makes his rounds a
that hour had flashed his light OF
them and then with the wrench they
hurriedly removed the screw bolti
from their window. With the window
out they still had to provide means
10 get to the ground four stories be
lev them, and so they tore the sheets
into strips and made the rope.
Cunant quickly descended, but Rey
nolds WIS unfortunate in making hi'
escape, as above noted. When he hat
recovered the two men went up th'
rlver road into the town Of Nassalbor'
30 Cprrch hill. At daylight they hi
in a grove near by and then the
starred out again a little later, tax
ing "a westerly course. They struc
the Maine Cultral and followed tn
track until they saw some peopl
when they do1ged into the woods, a
forwards coming back to the railroa
They were very careful that none
thu section hands sbw them. Th
enIered Wattryille IN broad dayligl
and from there Went to Oakland, th'
to Smithfield on Great pond
PARTED AT SMITHFIELD.
1t was at Smithfield that the "
men separated. Reynolds says tht
lmth intended to go to Farmingto
hst Conant "ducked" him. The youni
er man borrowed his coat and % cen
to get some tobacco and that was tn
last that Reynolds saw of him. Re!
nuAds supply of food soon gave OF
and he was forced to beg a little o
the Journey. After a day or two
wandering he arrived at Smithfiel
and there he was given a job by Nj
Intire. He worked Saturday to II
satisfaction of his employer and ais
did some work Sunday.
In the meantime the Heald brothel
who live near by, saw him and The
suspected that he might be the mf
who escaped from the asylum, as tht
had read all about the case al
thought he answered tie descriptio
When Sheriff Mooers returned hon
Sunday evening he got a telephol
message from the Heads and he in
mediately called up the hospital a
, thorities at Augusta to get more d
tailed description of the man. The
he secured an automobile and he al
Deputy Sheriff Brotield were in No
ridgewock within about Is minute
tir,,a Tbav wont dirapttv m thp NJ