Rensselaer Republican, Volume 15, Number 46, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 26 July 1883 — A Modern Jean Valjean. [ARTICLE]

A Modern Jean Valjean.

The novelists are continually being out-done by the chroniclers of facts in throwing about life the rosy tints of romance. The story of George Avery is more remarkable than the fiction of Hugo. His variations of social condition have been very singular. In 1870 Avery was but 21 years of age, yet he was arrested for the murder of John Haynes, of Pike county, Pa., with the evidence conclusive against him. On the way to prison the officer who had him in charge drank so heavily that he became drunk. Avery took the key, unlocked the shackles, and drove on to town with the drunken officer, whom he put to bed in a hotel, and then proceeded to deliver himself up. He was held in jail for four months, when his case was put on trial. The testimony against him was overwhelming, yet, to the surprise of everyone, he was acquitted. The day following his discharge he was arrested for burglary. He was found guilty and sentenced to a term of two years in the penitentiary at Philadelphia. After being released he opened a law office, and caused the arrest, for perjury, of several citizens who had testified against him in the burglary case. He failed to prove the charge, the costs were put upon him, and, being unable to pay them, he was sent to jail. Again released, he returned to Rolands, his old home, where afterward burglaries became frequent though no evidence was obtained against Avery. Two years later he set np as a lawyer at Oil City. He secured a good business and was doing well whdn he was arrested for forgery, convicted and sentenced to the penitentiary for five years. While in this confinement he fell in love with a 1 daughter of the Warden, who reciprocated his affection and offered to aid in his escape. He refmted to leave until his time expired. When he got out he returned to Rolands and soon after professed religion. He did some preaching, but after swindling a neighbor ont of SIOO, returned through the persuasive influence of a shot-gun, he went to Luzerne county lor a change of experience. There he did something that got him into the penitentiary. When freedom embraced him again he went to the mining regions of the West, opened a law office, and began speculating in stocks. Lajt year he “struck it rich,” making $750,000, which he invested in Government bonds. Then he sent for his sweet heart, the Warden’s daughter, wh< joined him in Chicago, where they wen married. He is now living a straight forward life in a Western State. He it 34 years of age, of excellent habits and declares he has been the victim ol circumstances. He says that when ht goes East again it will be as a United States Senator. —Chicago Inter Ocean.