THE CAREER OF A BURGLAR.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3821, 15 October 1883, Page 4

THE CAREER OF A BURGLAR.

AA'.ivnc County, Fcr_f=ylvaniii, liiis a character Avho casts Victor Hugo's Jean Valijcan into the shade ; for Avhile one reformed in good earnest, the AVaync County man fluctuates between deeds of chivalry and acts of baseness. His name is George Avery, and at present he is living in one of tliu AVesteni States. In 1870, when Avery Avas only 21 years old, he Avas charged Avith the murder of John Haynes, of RoAvlands, Pike County. Ho Avas arrested, and an officer detailed to bring him to Milford. Evidence of the murder Avas said to bo so conclusive that ho could not possibly escape hanging. On their Avay to Milford, Avhere the county prison Avas located, tho officer imbibed freely in liquor and became helplessly drunk. Avery secured the keys Avhich unlocked the handcuffs and shackles by which he Avas bound, and removed the manacles, placing them iv the bottom of tho Avaggon. He took tho reins from the stupidly drunken officer's hands, and drove to the nearest hotel, Avhere he arrived with the officer in charge at a late hour. He put the drunken man to bed, roused him the next morning, got him into tho Avaggon, drove on to Milford, Avhen, after ho had put tho officer in bed at the hotel, ho Avalkcd up to tho jail and delivered himself up to the keeper, tolling him about the experience Avith tho constable. He Avas confined till September—this Avas in June— when ho avus tried for murder, and, in spite of overwhelming proof, Avas acquitted, to tho surprise of everybody—tho court most of all. The day after ho Avas discharged from custody he Avas arrested, charged witli burglary, convicted, and sent to State Prison for a year and a half. Ho served the full term, reading IaAV during his confinement. AVhcn ho left tho Eastern Penitentiary, at Philadelphia, ho returned home, opened a IaAV office, arrested several citizens Avho had testified against him Avhen he Avas on trial for burglary, charging them Avith per juiy. Failing to make out his case, ho Avas sentenced to pay tho costs. He had no money, so he Avent to jail again, Avhere ho remained until his friends could scrape up enough money to get him out. AVhen, finally, ho became a free man again, ho returned to his old homo at Rowlands. From that time forward burglaries Avero numerous about there, but never could evidence sufficient to convict Avery be obtained. A year or so later he went to Oil City, Pa., Avhoro he hung out his sign as a hiAvycr. Clients Avero plenty and fees large. Avery Avas reaping a golden harvest when ho was convicted and sent to the AVesteni Penitentiary for four years and eleven months. AVhile there he fell into loa-c Avith one of the keeper's daughters, aud sho offered to assist him to escape, but ho refused to leave until his time was out. At the end of term bo -went back to RoAvlands, soon_ aftcrwaid professed religion, began preaching a littlo, swindled a neighbour out of 10 dols, and was induced by the neighbour, Avho info reed argument with a big gun, to refund tho money. Avery then left for Lucerne County, Avhoro he got into difficulty and Avas sent to the Eastern Penitentiary for a short term. Upon his release ho stole enough money to take him to tho mining regions of the AVest, Avhere under an assumed name ho opened a law office and speculated in stocks. In 1882 he "struck it rich," cleared 750,000 dols, gave up stocks at once, invested his money in Government bonds, sent for his fiancee, the prison-keeper's daughter, \vho joined him in Chicargo, Avhere they Avere married. Avery is only 3-1 years old.