The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1916-04-11
Prisoner WhOFsCaped From County
Jail Last October
CAUGHT At PLYMOUTH, n. h.
Made Way to Liberty, With Pair of
Shears While Awaiting Trial for
Horse-stealing.

Deputy Sheriff James D. Purdy of
Manchester arrived at the county Jail
this morning with Carl Danforth who
made his escape from that institution
October l, 1915. Danforth was ar
rested Friday at Plymouth N. H.
by the police officials acting under in.
structions from Deputy Purdy.
At the time Of his escape. Danforth,
who is p years old and who has lived
the larger portion of his life in Ben
aington, was awaiting a hearing on
he charge Of having stolen livery
zig from Nicholas d. Cone. 1t was
;harged that Danforth drove the horse
o North Adams at such high rate Of
speed that the animal was in a serious
condition when it reached that city.
de was under indictment and his case
would have been heard at the last De
,ember term Of county court
While repairs were being made at
he county court house last fall the
electricians removed a portion of the
looring on the second floor of the
building over the jail A crack in
| ,he plastering over the Jail corridor
jermitted the light to come through
rom the court room. The ray OF light
vas q ray of hope for Danforth and
mother young prisoner named Fred
1ote. who was awaiting trial on the
barge Of stealing a motorcycle at Ar
ington. riding the machine to Syra-
use and selling it.
With a pair of shears, which had
jeen loaned the prisoners to repair
| heir clothing the lath and plaster
we're ripped from the ceiling and an
| pening was made large enough to
| lermit the slightly built young men
squeeze their way through into the
ourt room They then walked down
tairs. passed through the front door
# the building and disappeared
Cote had been at liberty but a short
| ime when he was arrested by the
| Springfield, Mass, police, returned
| lere, given a trial before county court
md sentenced to not more than two
1 Val 3 III Allt llONSt VI wi lNNAlOi a.
| iutland.
| Danforth apparently made good his
| 'scape. Soon after the break was
made trace of him was found in the
own OF Hoosick. but he dropped out
# sight and the trail was apparently
ost Deputy Sheriff Purdy, however
vas determined to recapture the pris
| ner, ii possible. He communicated
With police officials in different sec,
| ions OF New England and in short
| Danforth was apparently suspicious
or he remained but a few days in
each town, gradually working his way
nto New Hampshire The deputy
sept up his lines OF communication
which have resulted in landing Dan
orth in his previous quarters. Dan
orth stated that at the time Of his ar
rest he was endeavoring to secure a
OBJ with one of the lumber companies
| operating in northern New Hampshire
and had he succeeded in doing so II i!
probable that would have kept hin
l pul VI Nle NluACuCN VI tit law ioi SUM
,imc.
During the years that he has beer
one OF Sheriff Frederick Godfrey
deputies. officer Purdy has demon
itrated that he possesses a peculia
ability in the running down of Law
breakers who seek to hide themselve
in remote sections Of tho country
Some years ago he followed an el
aped burglar into the baokwoods c
Maine and notwithstanding the fac
chat the man had grown full bear
and joined gang of lumbermen, III
officer succeeded in making the a
rest.