Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1926-04-19
Retake Fugitives
Quirion and Pease
From SkOWflegan Jail

Fred Quirion, the second OF the
convictS who escaped from the SOM
erset county Jail, Wednesday even
ing, was captured at o'clock Sat
urday morning as he and Pease, the
third man We're walking the railroad
track at Bingham. Pease got away
from the officers in the dark. but
Quirion whose physical condition is
very poor gave up after running a
short distance. He was brought to
Skowhegan by Deputy Sheriff
Adams Saturday afternoon and Civ
en- a thorough grilling by Sheriff
Healy. Quirion admitted saving the
window bar stating that he and
Pease escaped first and cleared
witout waiting for Vashon. They
travelled nearly all night going
north on the Athens road until they
came to Cass corner. Thinking
that they were approaching a village
they doubled on their tracks as far
as the Frank Hight farm, turning
westward on the crossroad to Hal
eyS corner, thence north to Savage
corner and then westward to Twelve
corner. When it came daylight they
went into the woods and waited for
darkness. Pease had about two dol
lars with him and this was used to
houses. Quirion who is suffering
from chronic appendicitis said that
he was obliged to rest often and
wanted to quite and give himself up
but Pease offered to wait for him so
he kept going. From the boys story
1t seems that Pease assumed the
leadership as soon as they were free
and it was his skill that enabled
them to elude the officers so long.
Vashon who gave himself up the
night before was equally guilty in
effecting the break for liberty and
| there is no doubt that Wheeler had
planned his escape but was prevent
ed by the fact that he had visitors
during the evening. Quirion is glad
to be back where it is at least dry
and warm.
Sheriff Healy received word late
. Saturday night that Pease had been
captured about 10 miles north of
Bingham in Ham brothers camp.
The story of Pease's capture is in
teresting. In as much as he was fully
determined to get away and waged
continual fight for liberty. After
lodging the officers at o'clock
Saturday morning Pease ran four
! miles north to Bingham Heights and
then took TO the woods. He had
loiSotlen ttlat tnere were other
woodsmen in the North country and
when Archie Kelley and Charles
Ham of Bingham donned their snow
shoes and took the woods trail
Pease's hours of freedom were short.
He proved his knowledge of the
woods however by leading his per-
suers six miles into the forest. The
| credit of his capture goes to Mr..
Kelley. PeaSe is known to Deputy
Sheriff Frank L. Gipson, of Bing-
ham, and he told that officer that he
expected to be caught in Bingham
but thought if. he could get by that
point he would be safe. He had
planned to go to the home of his
uncle in Canada, and after a rest
there to make his home with another
uncle fifty miles further into the in
terror of the country. He will be
returned to .Skowhegan Jail today.
The capture of Pease is one of the
most exciting man hunt in Somerset
county since the escape of Galway,
the fire bug, who got away while
Frank Thompson was sheriff.
Strange as it may seem these mef,
seem almost happy to return to con-
finement. The strain of being hunt
ed proving harder than their Jail
life