The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-12-29
STRANGE s1uRY OF A CuMvIcr.
HIS Body Literally NeedIe-CushiOn-
Needles Driven intO Him by Thieves
and COuuterfeitera. .. .......

NeeNAeH AnSU hhAhA W
and COunterfeiters. o. at.-..r
mThe Warren (O.) Ohronicle OF December 26
has the following strange story:- I'd. Day.
colored, convicted OF burglary at the last term
OF the Court, was taken last week to the peni-
tentiary, making his third term at that instltu-
ton. He seems to be an incorrigible fellow, but
claims to have been more sinned against than
SHINING. He claims to be the victim OF merci-
less set OF persecutors-an organized band OF
thieves and counterfeiters.
Our readers will remember that we lately
published two instances IN which surgeons
extracted needles from Days neck and breast,
while in Jail awaiting his trial. Four large but
ton needles we're cut out OF his person, and the
surgeons say he has great many more-per-
haps tilty-in different parts OF his body. But
as the needles do not seriously affect him,
except when they work to some especially sensi-
tive part, he does not like TO have the surgeons
operate on him. We were present on one occa-
sion when he was being examined by sur
geon, and 1t was easy to observe the locality of
needles in his face and neck.
When first asked how they came to be In him,
he obstinately refused to tell; but taking SICK,
and thinking, perhaps, he had not long to live,
he yielded to frequent persuasions to dlvulge his
secret, under condition that 1t should not be
made public until he was out OF the way OF his
Prosecutors. He claims that his principal busi-
ness has been TO discover the schemes and ras-
calines of certain parties, and then to black
mail them to keep him from divulging. Some
eight ten years since the Treasurer's Office in
Ashtabula county was robbed. Day claims he
was made cognizant OF the robbery, and en-
ployed to carry several thousand dollars to
certain party, but instead OF doing so he appro-
pTiated the money to his own use. This so in
censed his confederates that they determined to
punish him.
He was taken and bound, and while in this
helpless condition hot needles we're forced into
his t1esh and he was forced to swear eternal
secrecy. under penalty OF suffering like pun
ishment If he did not keep his promise. Two
years ago last summer party of counterfeiters
in this place endeavored to engage him to do
some work for them. (Day is tolerable en-
graver.) After finding out their plans he re-
fused to do the work, but told them he wanted
several hundred dollars hush-money. One night
he was decoyed into place on Main street,
knocked down, manacled, and carried to a GER
tain point on back street, and put to tortures
that would shame the cruelties of the Spanish
Inquisltlon.
One plan was to tickle the soles of his feet until
he would aint under the eXcruciating agony.
After somewhat reviving, red-hot needles were
driven in his body, legs, arms and cheeks. He
says he knows the parties, but is afraid to make.
their names public. How much truth there
may be In his story, we will not pretend TO says
The fact that his body is literally needle
cushione leads to the inference that some forci-
BILE means we're probably used to place them
there. ..-
This strange story of cruelty and w!ckedness
is hard 10 believe az having occurred in these
days, yet there are certain circumstances that
in some degree corroborate his statements.
Had sharp, discreet detective obtained the
Confluence Ol LAY, ne IulSuL nave iedrueu
that would have aided in uneaIthing gangs of
thieves and their nefarious schemes. We have
no doubt there are many men at large who are
as deserving, to say the least of Days fate as
himself. Although he is probably thief him.
self, he is a sort of Ishmaelte among them. be
cause of his black-mail levies upon them. He
says he met several members of The gang in the
Penitentiary, and that he was not free from
their hate and prosecutions even there, and that
the prison keepers were at loss to know why
he was concerned in so many quarres with the
prisoners.
He did not dare tell them, because he did not
suppose he would be believed. He IS more than
ordinarily sharp; has good common educa-
ton, and read law for a while with John NJ.
Langston, of 0berlin. He is a good penman,
and says counterfeiters used him to initiate
signatures to their bills. He learned the art of
engraving, no doubt, to make his services more
valuable in the counterfeiting business. When
arraigned before the bar for his late sentence,
he made short speech in his defense, in which
some points were made with considerable
ability. His attorney, however, did not con-
slider his case defensi6le, the proof OF his hay
ing committed burglary being too positive to
be evaded. He goes to the Penitentlary for
three years, but he told the jaior before he left
there he did not expect to live through the
term. 1t is ard to realize what there is in life
TO render it desirable to him.