, and all this while I was in jail. My
trial lasted a week. The Bradley woman knew she was no more married to
me than she was to the man in the moon; but she swore stoutly that we
were actually wedded according to the certificate. 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.
I told him all about my case. He assured me, after hearing all the
circumstances, that if I should be convicted and sentenced, he would
surely pardon me in the course of six or eight weeks. Trusting in this
promise, I made no further effort to escape though I could have done
so easily any night; but rather than run the risk of recapture, and a
heavier sentence if I should be convicted, I awaited the chances of the
court, and looked beyond for the clemency of the Governor.

Well, finally my case came up in the Supreme Court. It only occupied
a day, and the result was that I was sentenced for three years in the
State prison. I was remanded to jail, and five days from that time I was
taken from Mon