The Camden weekly journal. [volume] (Camden, South-Carolina) 1853-1861, 1855-12-18
DEATH OF A HALF CENTURY CONVICT.

of Old Bob" who has been an inmate OF the
Maryland Penitentiary, since 1910, died at that
institution on Wednesday. The history of this
man, and the circumstances attending his con-
victipn and incarceration have frequently been
rehearsed TO the public, and were the subject of
comment by Charles Dickens, in his "Notes
on America" a work published after the gen.
tleman had returned from making the tour Of
this country. He belonged to planter Of
Charles county, who was rather severe mas
ter, and in 1902 placed him on board vessel,
with instructions to allow no one, not even the
son Of the master, to come on the vessel and
if any attempt was made to board the vessel
he sboull strike them on the head with a hand
spike. In the evening following the issuing of
this mandate, the son of his master, in compa.
ny with two Of his associates, approached the
vessel and attempted to board her; he was
warned no, to come on board, by "Old Bob,"
who repeated the instructions Of his master,
aud added that he would obey the orders he
had received The young man, regarding the
language Of the negro as jest, rushed heed
lcssly forward, and gained j position on the
vessel ;; but no sooner hadhc landed than Bob
picked up the hm,dspikc and knocked him in
the head, killing him instantly. Bob was inn
mcdiately arrested and lodged in jail. He was
tried for murder and convicted. The cifcum.
stances of the case undcr which the deed had
been perpetrated, so far secured the clemcncy
of the Court rs to commute his sentence to
Imprisonment for life. He was first placed in
the chain gang, where he continued until the
erection Of the Penitentiary, when he was
transferred to that institution, where ne eman-
ed until his death on "Wednesday.
The period Of his confinement was about
ffty.three years. and he was upwards of one
hundred years old ut the. time Of his DEATH
For a.nunbcr of years past, he has been spared
all laborious employment, and passed his time
in amusing himself in various ways, such as
cutivains flowers, raising pigs, smoking her
ring, &C. Su strongly had the habits of life
in prison grown upon him that on several occa.
sions, when lie was liberated to test what might
be his conduct, he refused to leave the instilu.
tion, and when the gates were chased upon
him, he would weep like child until he was
restored to his former position. HIS deport-
ment during the whole period Of his coufne.
mcnt was such that no fault could be found
with him. lie attracted The special attention
Of all who visited the prison, and has gained
perhaps wider reputation by being convict
than lie would have done, had not the calamity
beElllcn him.
From the history Of This venerable convict a
lesson may be learned by those who command
that which should not be performed. 1t is right
and proper that slaves should be obedIent mi o
their masters. But in this instance all nrder
was riven aud pcrf'rncd, which caused the
death Of u child, misery to a parent, and the
worst form Of servilude to one who was cOu,,
peled tu obey the injunctons Of his master.
Bait. -1D,cricun.
TIE WIFE OF CATHOLIC PuEsr SUING
FOR A DowER.--We have already aludedt to
a curious case now before J. NJ. Van Colt,
(Supremc Court, Brooklyn)a as Referee. The
suit VAS brought by the widow Of one Charles
Smith, a Catholic Priest, deceased in 1851, TO
recover her dover in certain lands conveyed
by her husband, in the alcnalion Of which she
did not Join with him. The lands in question
consist Of two lots in Jay street, Brooklyn,
now valued at $4,000, Of which in lS4s Char-
les Smith was seized, and which in the same
year he conveyed in fee to Archbishop Hug
hes Tor the sum Of $1,000. They are opposite
ST. James Church Of which Smith was the
pastor, and the defendant Laughlin, who is
the Ronau Catholic Bishop Of Brooklyn, is
now in possession Of the property rs tenant.
The plaintiff claims to have been the wife Of
Charles Smith at the time Of the conveyance Of
the property and for many years previous, and
to have had two children by him, who are both
living.
Smith officiated as Catholic Priest in Albany.
Charles H. Smith, twenty.three years Of age
was one of the witnesses. flc had always
heard of Charles Smith as his father; was put
bv him with the Shakers at New. Lebanon,
when six years old; staid there till ls4S; had
money Of him; at his suggestion ran away in
lS4s, and was treated by him as his sou after
that.
Other witness testified to similar facts
that Mr.. Smith had to them confessed that
Julia was his wife and that he treated her as
such though not openly, for nearly score of
years. The defendant denied that the plaintiff
was the wife of Smith, and set up that the
property was purchased, ,'htid and conveyed By
him in fducary Altogether, it is a very
fair case for the gossips. Y. Times.
DR.. PusEy's New TIrLE.-1hc Protestant
Archbishop of Dublin, aInding to the noted
father of a system in the Church of Eng land
known as the Tractaran, has given him new
title, derived from the classics. Some Of the
Archbishop's clergy had been speaking OF DR.,
Pusey's remaining in the Establishment as n
rroof of his soundness in the Thirty mine
Articles, when the Archbishop replied: "Non
sense, gentlemen, know Puscy. He is the
Charon of Pervcrtism, and will never quit the
boat as long as there is one left on this side of
the Stvx. that he can ferry over to Popcry.