It was late November of 1950 in the White Lake area of northern Oneida County. A hurricane had come ashore from the Atlantic and its remnants were moving up through New York State toward the Adirondacks. Severe winds and thunderstorms were in the forecast.

As if this wasn’t enough, word has spread into the North Country that an imprisoned maniac had escaped from a downstate institution and was reported to be headed in this direction.

When word of this latest development reached the restaurant near the White Lake shore, patrons were instructed to go out and lock their vehicles, even though a mild rain had turned steady.

A couple of institution guards stopped at the Inn and showed the assembled people a man’s photograph to identify. Continue reading →