On the other hand, my son swore to all the facts about
the Troy spree, and his buying and filling out the certificate,
which showed for itself that, excepting the signature of the young
woman who also witnessed it, it was entirely in Henry's handwriting.
I should have got along well enough so far as the Bradley woman was
concerned; but the prosecution had been put in possession of all the
facts relative to my first and worst marriage, and the whole matter
came up in this case. The District Attorney had sent everywhere, as
far even as Illinois, for witness with regard to that marriage. It
seemed as if all Vermont was against me. I have heard that with the
cost of witnesses and other expenses, my trial cost the state more
than five thousand dollars. My three lawyers could not save me.
After a week's trial the case went to the jury, and in four hours
they returned a verdict of "guilty."
My counsel instantly appealed the case to the Supreme Court, and,
meanwhile I went back to jail where I remained three months more. A
few days after I returned to jail a friend of mine managed to
furnish me with files and saws, and I went industriously to work at
the gratings of my window to saw my way out. I could work only at
night, when the keepers were away, and I covered the traces of my
cuttings by filling in with tallow. In two months I had everything
in readiness for my escape. An hour's more sawing at the bars would
set me free. But just at that time the Governor of the State,
Fletcher, made a visit to the jail.
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