The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1912-05-11
CLEVER PRISONER
ESCAPED OVER
PRISON ROOF
Frank Atkins Got Away From
House of Correction.
HAD BEEN A MODEL PRISONER
Was In Prison for Burglary Of Cot
tage at Center Rutland and Had
Only Five Months TO Serve

Rutland, May 11.-Frank Atkins,
one of the most trusted prisoners at
the house of correction, availed him
self of his privileges to make his es-
cape from the institution some time
Thursday night, and no reliable clew
as to his whereabouts had been Sc
cured up to a late hour last night.
The authorities, however, believe
that the fugitive got away to Montre-
al, p. @, on the early morning train,
before the alarm had been raised,
and even before he was missed.
The man, who was rated a model
prisoner by the attaches of the house
of correction, made his escape from
the old hospital, which was used as
a chapel at one time. He was COM
mitted for burglary. at the September
| term of Rutland county court, but ow-
4 ing to his apparent trustworthiness,
he was employed in various impor-
tant capacities by the officials, among
others, that of hospital attendant
! The last patient was removed from
the old hospital Thursday, but At
kins slept there Thursday night as
usual At what time he got away
the officers do not know, as he was
not missed until Z o'clock yesterday
morning, when A. W. White, an at
tache, entered the apartment and
found him gone.
Atkins manner of escape shows
both resourcefulness and persever-
ance. The only door leading from
the hospital would have taken the
escaping convict through the guard
room, but in the ceiling of the room,
which is Is feet high, is scuttle.
| The scuttle leads up under the roof,
and into the cupola. the highest point
on any of the prison buildings. At
kins got into the scuttle by means
OF board and bench. He found a
long board on one of the shelves of
the apartment, and braced IL with a
cleat on the bench. running the other
end OF the board into the scuttle He
climbed this precarious ladder and
then up the scuttle, dragging the
board after him. BY means of the
board he got into the cupola and let
himself out by the removal of win.
dow with his hands. and such prim-
tive tools as he may have carried
with him Atkins left the board
which had proved such an assistance
to him. in the cupola, where il was
found when search was being made,
but at this point all opinion as TO
the fugitive's further movements is
mere conjecture He left no trace
behind that has yet been detected. II
is presumed, however, that the Jail.
breaker made his way along the ridge
OF the building, northward. as he
could not have dropped without Ger.
tain death from the tall structure.
and as he left no ropes after him,
upon which he could have let himself
down. Il is supposed that he proceed
ed in this manner from building to
building, toward the north end OF
the Jail
Atkins was committed last Sep
TENDER for burglary committed at
the keyes' cottage at Center Rutland
in company with Edward Casey, who
was also committed Atkins was
given a minimum sentence OF one
year and two months, and had al.
ready served most Of his sentence,
which would have expired in five
months. He had charge of perjury
hanging over him, however. which
would have been pressed at the ex.
piration Of his first sentence. The
alleged perjury was committed when
Casey was on trial.
/ Atkins was % years old, FIVE feet
and nine inches in height OF light
complexion, light brown hair and
blue eyes. He had excellent teeth
and always had taken fastidlous care
OF his hands. When he escaped he
wore a blue checked shirt, pair OF
grey checked trousers. and darl
coat As to whether he wore hat
or cap, Supt. Morgan could not say.