Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1922-07-07
DURANT ESCAPES
AT NEWFANE JAIL
Was Awaiting Hearing and Sen
tence for Breach Of Parole
Went Through Front Door, Apparently
Having Assistance = Visits Keene, n
H., and Greenfield. Mass.


Clifford Durant, formerly of Keene. n.
H., who has long criminal record in
New Hampshire, Massachusetts and Yer
mont and who was placed in Newfane
Jail May 23 to await hearing for violat-
ing conditions of his parole, escaped from
the Jail between 10 and IL Monday
forenoon. lie is now at large and Sheriff
Frank l.. Wellman and others are search
ing for him.
Durant was the only close Jail prisoner
on the first floor, the other prisoners be-
ing out at work under guard. He had
the use of the corridor into which the
door from which he escaped opens. Jailer
III. Il. Osborne spoke with Durant through
the Jail between 10 and - o'clock Monday
afterwards left for Brattleboro. When
he returned about 1890 he was notified
that Durant had gone. The escape was
discovered by Mr.. Osborncs son, when
the latter was about to unlock the jail
door to allow the other prisoners to go
in for their dinner The son found that
the door was unlocked, and as the lock
does not work as well as it did before it
through the window bars some implement
by which he picked the lock, although it
was of a modern Jail type.
Durant is five feet, eight to 10 inches
tall, weighs 100 pounds, and is smooth
shayen. He wore a blue serge suit, light
cap, shell trimmed glasses and low shoes.
| He has Il habit of calling ut garages and
hiring automobiles without paying for
them.
He was sentenced Nov TO- 1921, to
not less than five years nor more than
six years in state prison after pleading
guilty to the charge of obtaining coat
from Goodnow. Pearson & Hunt of Brat
tleboro, giving in payment a worthless
| check. This operation resulted in his
| N al OF. "a,
prison at Concord to serve out an unex-
pired term, in view of which fact the
court at Newfane suspended his sentence
and put him on parole. Last February
Durant was in an escapade in Hartford
Conn, with girl from Marlboro, n. H.
for which he was sentenced in Hartford
to 100 days in Jail, after which he was
brought back to Newfane because of his
breach of parole. If captured he probably
will have to serve time in addition to his
sentence which was suspended.
He went to West Chesterfield, Keent
and Greenfield. according to informa
Police George Wilson, and track of hin
was lost in Greenfield, where he avoided
payment of automobile transportation
charges. which is one of his old tricks,
Shortly after noon on the day of hi
escape Durant, who wore heavy BON
trimmed glasses. appeared at the house o
Earl Bunnell in West, Chesterfield, TIL
former Pcriey Richardson place and sal,
he had n Franklin automobile down til
road and that front wheel was broken
He wanted Mr.. Bunnell to take him t.
Keenc, which is Durant's former home
after Il new wheel.
Mr.. Bunnell had another engagement
but George l.. Brown of West Chester
field, who does considerable transporta
ton for hire. was engaged to take Dur
ant to Kecne. There Durant visited
several garages without finding a whee
of the kind he wanted. After aSkini
Mr.. Brown what the charge would be t.
20 to Greenfield a trip to that town wa
made. and further inquiry was mad
concerning new wheel.
After Il time Durant eluded Mr.. Brown
and the latter waited in his car an hou
and half, finally concluding that Dur
ant did not intend to come back. BE
ing unable to locate Durant. Mr.. Brow
returned home and charged up $50 t,
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