“A Convict Escapes,” Kingston Daily Standard. March 30, 1912. Pages 01 & 08.

“Joseph Chatrand Scaled Penitentiary Wall and Got Away Safe.
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HE SAWED THE BARS.
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This is the Second Time the Man, Who Is Insane, Has Got Away from Prison – Search Parties After Him – Cleverly Planned.
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Joseph Chartrand, an insane convict, made his second escape from Portsmouth Penitentiary some time between midnight and two o’clock this (Saturday) morning.

The convict sawed through bars, substituting black paper, and scaled prison walls with aid of a rope.

He escape the first time on May 6th, 1906, and was captured a month later.

A reward of $50 is offered for his capture.

He may have crossed over the ice.
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Somewhere, perhaps within a short distance of Kingston, a maniac convict from Portsmouth Penitentiary roams at large.  he may have got away on a freight train or possibly crossed over on the ice into the United States.

This morning between midnight and two o’clock Joseph Chartrand, a lifer in the Penitentiary, made his escape from the building for insane convicts. The prisoner, who is a desperado, duplicated the performance he pulled off on May 6th, 1906.

When on that date, six years ago, the morning gong was rung to summons the men of stripes, ‘No. 934,’ otherwise known as Joseph Chartrand, was an ‘absentee.’

It was a revelation to the officials and inmates of the ‘Bastille,’ when it was found that one of the inmates had escaped, for there are few who are landed behind the walls of stone and bars of iron that get out till their time is finished or he is pardoned. It is an exceedingly rare occurrence when a convict takes ‘French leave.’ The convict in question is half French and half Indian.  His original home was Montreal and from there he drifted to Ottawa.  Afterwards he went up to the Soo. He found employment as a trapper and combined that life with that of a rough sailor.  in this place his untamed spirit found vent and got him into trouble.

Killed A Policeman.
One night in a fracas he resisted arrest and killed a policeman.  

For three days he was a fugitive and when found a portion of his body whas buried in slime in the woods.  he was still alive and was convicted and handed over to the tender mercies of the Dominion hangman Ratcliff. Then the mercy of the misguided public came into force and the plea of temporary insanity was sufficient to commute his sentence and he came down to the big Portsmouth institution.

On his way down he threatened the life of his penal conductor.  After being locked up he became offensive and violent. The prisoner is described as follows: He is 40 years old, height 5 feet, 9, rather sallow complexion, high cheek bone and large nose, thin body, grey eyes, brown hair, two scars below knee, berth mark on back of thigh and leg.

Cut Through Bars.
The [1906] escape was made by cutting the bars of his cell and window and scalling over the prison walls with the aid of sash cords taken from the window. Chartrand cunningly placed a dummy in his bed, made up of flower pots.  After a month and eight days’ liberty, Chartrand was captured in a very clever manner by a woman on a farm near Mallorytown.

Prison Bell Clanged.
The clang of the prison bell about two o’clock this morning alarmed the slumberers of the people of the peaceful village of Portsmouth.  To the guards living in the village and the city it was a summons to report at the big penal institution.  Before the last sound of the bell had died away, guards and keepers were making their way towards the big stone building on the hill, where it was found that Joseph Chartrand had once more taken French leave.  Just what direction the man took would be hard to determine.  The ice is still good between Kingston and the American shore.  Friday night the moon shone clear across the frozen surface and there would be little risk in a desperate convict attempting to duplicate the exploit of Blake Robson, Shott and Wright who crossed the ice on a bitter cold night to Cape Vincent.

Perhaps Boarded Freight.
Warden Platt was of the opinion that Chartrand took his direction towards Collins’ Bay and that he would try and board a freight train.  The grade near Dawson’s farm, west of Cataraqui, is a good place for anyone to get on heavy freight trains, and is frequently used by tramps and others who ride the bumbers. No doubt at this place the fugitive might try to board a Grand Trunk freight.

The Same Old Way.
The escape was effected in about the same manner as the way the man got out of the Penitentiary six years ago.  He cut out three bars in the cell door and one from the window.  The work must have taken him some time.  He replaced the bars with imitation ones made of black paper, and in this way deceived the guard.  In some manner the man secured a rope which was found hanging over the wall of the west side of the prison, by the night patrol before the man was missed from the cell.

Searching parties were despatched in all directions and the police at different places were notified by telephone.

Warden Platt has offered $50 for Chartrand’s recapture.

Where Is Chartrand?
Up to the time of going to press no trace has been found of Chartrand, although scores of guards and the police in neighbouring towns had been on the lookout for him.  At the penitentiary, the opinion seems current that the escape convict is hiding within a short distance of the institution.  To-night guards will patrol the Portsmouth shore in case Chartrand is on this side, and should attempt to escape across the ice.  It is possible that guards will search Snake Island this afternoon.  The authorities at Wolfe Island and Cape Vincent have been notified to be on the lookout for Chartrand.”