The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1866-12-28
STORY OF A CONVICT.
His BODY Literally n Needle Cushion
Needles Driven Into Him by
Thicrcs md Convict

The Warren (O.) Chronicle, of Dec. 26,
has the following strange story: Ed.
Day, colOred, convicted of burglary at
the last term of the court, was taken
last week to the penitentiary, making
his third term at that institution. He
seems to be IN incOrrigiblc fellow, but
claims TO have been more sinned against
than SHINING. He claims to be the vic
tim of merciless set ofpersecntOrs-an
organizedsband of thieves and counter
feiters. Our readers will remember
that we lately published two in
stances in which surgeons extracted
needles from Days neck and breast,
while in Jail awaiting his trial. -Four
large button needles were cut out of
his person, and the surgeons say he has
a great many more-perhaps fifty-in
different parts of his body. But rs the
needles do not seriously affect him, ex
cept when they work TO some extreme
ly sensitive part, he does not like to
to have the surgeons operate upon him.
We were present upon one occasion
when he was being examined by sur
geop, and it was easy to see the locality
of the needles in his face and neck.
When first asked how they came
to be in him, he obstinately re-
fused to tell; but taking sick, and
thinking, perhaps, he had not long TO
live, he yielded to frequent persuasiOns
to divulge his secret, under condition
that it should not be made public until
he was ont of the way Of bis prosecutors.
He claims that his principal business
has been to discover the schemes and
rascalities Of certain parties, and then
to black-mail them to keep him from
divulging. Some eight or ten years
since the Treasurer's Office in Ashtabula
county was robbed. Day claims he was
made cognizant of the robbery, and en-
played 10 carry several thousand dol
lars TO a certain party, but instead of
doing so he appropriated the money to
his own use. This so incelsed his cOnfed
crates that they determined TO punish
him. He was taken and bound, and
while in this helpless condition hot
needles were forced into his flesh, 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, endeayored
to engage him to do some work for
them. day is tolerable engraver)
After finding ont their plans, he re-
fused TO do the work, but told them
he wanted several hundred dol
lars hush money. One night be
was decoyed into a pace on Main
street, knocked down, manaeled and
carried to q certain point on back
street, and put TO tortures that would
shame. the cruelties of the Spanish In
auisition. One plan was to tickle the
soles Of his feet until he would faint IN
der the excruciating agony. After
somewhat reviving, red hot needles
were driven into his body, legs, arms,
and cheeks He says he knows the par
ties, but is afraid TO make their names
public. How much truth there may be
IN his story we viii not pretend to say.
The fact that his body is literally .
needle cushion, leads to the inferene
that some forcible means wereprobably
used to place them there -