Martinsburgh Gazette

BARON TRENCK BEATEN.

Boston, Jan. 23.—On Tuesday night, Harvard Trask, a prisoner in the County gaol in this town, made his escape and has not yet been found. He is the person who was some time since tried in the Supreme Court for murder committed in the State prison, and acquitted on the plea of insanity, and who, being committed for safe keeping to the gaol in this town, in September last, killed two of his fellow prisoners, who had been permitted to accompany him in his room, to assist him in reading the bible: Since the commission of this last act, he has been kept in irons. A short time since, he entirely stripped himself of his irons, and they were replaced by a new set much stronger. These were shackles upon his legs, by which he was chained to the floor, a double pair of handcuffs, and an iron collar, with a chain passing from it to the irons between his hands. These irons had been strictly examined on Monday, and were entirely sound, and they were apparently so on Tuesday. He however, succeeded on Tuesday night in breaking both pair of handcuffs, the chain of his collar, and the chain by which he was fastened to the floor. He then removed two or three thick oak planks which formed a part of the ceiling, and were fastened by several bolts, broke two large bars of iron, removed a number of small stones in the wall, and forced out a large stone forming a part of the outer face of the wall which fell upon the platform, and left an opening large enough for him easily to escape. By the assistance of a plank from his room, he made his way to the top of a shed from which he escaped into the street carrying with him probably his collar and handcuffs soon after the shifting of the gaol watch, at one o'clock, the stone was discovered upon the platform, and the room was found deserted. From a noise that was heard, it is supposed that this was effected a little before 12 o'clock. A person supposed to be him was soon afterwards seen by the watchmen near the market, and challenged by them, but he gave such an account of himself that they suffered him to pass on. It does not appear that he had any instrument to assist in relieving himself from his irons, or in removing the wall.