Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1915-03-09
JOSEPH KING and
SANFORD PRATT ARE
CAUGHT At LEWISTON
Escaped from the Kennebec Jail
Last Spring-Capture a Good
Piece of Work by Lewiston
Police Prisoners Brought
Back to Augusta

In response to message received by
Sheriff Getchell Monday morning from
the Lewiston police department, telling
Of the arrest Of two men, Joe King Of
Waterville and Sanford Pratt OF Bow
doinham, who escaped from kennebec
Jail last spring, Deputy Sheriff Bucklin
went to Lewiston and brought the pris-
onerS to Augusta, reaching this city on
the O'Clock car Monday afternoon.
King, who made his escape from jail
April -, 1914, was serving a sentence Of
10 months on a liquor case, and Pratt,
who escaped from jail March 81, 1914. was
serving a sentence of II months on the
charge OF cheating by false pretences.
Tho Lewiston Sun Monday morning had
the following account Of the capture of
the men:
"A man put in an appearance at the
Lewiston police station last night and
informed the officer in charge that he
knew Of the Whereabouts Of two men,
King and Pratt by name, who had es
capped from the Kennebec county Jail at
August last spring and were at present
located in Lewiston. All OF this he told
to Inspector Murphy without faltering.
At this point his story came 70 an abrupt
termination. For his trouble. both men
tai and physical, ne demanded a pecuni-
airy reward.
inspector Murphy telephoned to Au-
gusta TO make sure that there could be
no mistake, and he was informed BIZ
Sheriff Getchell OF keanebec county that
two men escaped from the Jail there last
spring and were being sought for all over
the country, but that no reward was Of
fered to any person giving information
leading to their arrest. Accordingly Off
Ger Murphy told the stranger the facts OF
the case. as he had heard them over the
wire. and the stranger departed.
at this point officer Murphy turned
detective and Swallowed the man from
the police Office TO Park, to Main, ard
thence to Lincoln street to a house we'll
known to the police OF the city and con-
Quoted by Mrs Rageux.
Seeing that il would be useless to at
tempt anything alone. the inspector call
ed the Office for aid and U.ncers Muir
ray, Rivard and Reardon vent to his as
s.stance.
Upon the arrival Of the other officers,
house. A thorough search revealed the
man who calle1 "a the station but not
the two to whom re ference had been
made as '.ja;l-breakers."
Accordingly. Inspector Murphy took
tie man 70 the station ana there b.
a series Of questions ana BY r-adn,,
a few verses OF the statutes to min
succeeded in learning a little more OF
the sto-y.
''This was TO reveal the hiding places.
but not to tell the names OF the parties
concerned. This seemed satisfactory to
Inspector Murphy, and he took the man
in tow to the lodging OF the men much
sought for, which vas at the Lewiston
House. Here. the two were found, and
identified as the ones wanted in Augusta.
Officers Breton and Langeler made the
;:rrests.
at the police station it was learned
that one Of the men vas named King,
VINO had been tried and convicted on
liquor charge while the name of tha
other was Pratt, charged with dispos-
ing of mortgaged property. King mad
been given a ten-months' sentence ami
had served about three months of il
at the time Of the escape. Pratt had
been sentenced to II months and had
sarved but two months of it. Both men
we're locked Up and the Augusta officials
notified OF their apprehension.
The men We're TRUSTEES at the jail a.
the time of their departure and as a
rare conincidence, if it may be called
such, Sunday night was the first time
they had met since breaking jail and
had lust commenced good blow out,
as they put it. when arrested by the
Lewiston officials.