The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1867-02-26

being examined by surgeon, and it wa:
easy 10 observe the locality of needles in
his face and neck. When first asked how
they came to be in him, he obstinateIy re-
fused to tell; but taking sick, and thinking
perhaps. he had not long to live, he Yield
ed to frequent persuasions to divuige his
secret, under condition that it should not
be made public until he was out of the way
of his prosecutors He claims that his prin
ciPaI business has been to discover the
schemes aud rascalities of certain parties,
and then to blackmail them to keep him
from divul ulging Some eight or ten years
since the Treasurers office in AshtabuIa
county was robbed. Day claims to have
been made cognizant of the robbery
and employed to carry several thousand
dollars to certain parties, but instead of do
ing SO he appropriated the money to his
own use. This so incensed his confederates
that they determined to punish him. He
was taken and bound, and while in this
he pless condition, hot needles were forced
in.o bis flesh, and he was forced to swear
eternal secrecy, under a penalty of suffer
ing like punishment if he did not keep
his promise. Two years ago last summer
a party of counterfeiters in this place, en-
deayored to engage him to do some work
for them. (Day is tolerable engraver.)
After finding out their plans he refused 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 certain point on back street, and put
to tortures that would shame the cruelties
Of the Spanish Inquisition One plan was
to tickle the soles of his feet until he would
faint under the excruciating agony After
somewhat reviving, rad hot needles were
driven in his body, legs, arms and cheeks
He says be 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 say. The fact that his body
is literally a needle cushion, leads to infer
ence that some fOrcible means were proba-
bly, used to place them there.
This strange story of cruelty and wicked
ness is hard to believe as having occurred
IN these days; yet there are certain circum-
stances that in some degree corroborate his
statements. Had sharp, discreet detect.
i've obtained the confidence of Dav, he
might have learned much that would have
aided in unearthing this gang OF thieves
and their nefarious schemes. We have no
doubt there are many men at large who
are quite AS deserving. to say the least, Of.
DAYS fate as himself Although he is
probably thief himself he is a sort of
lshm&iite among them. He says he met
several members Of the gang in the peni-
tentlarv, and that he was not free from
Their haze and prosecutions even there, and
that The prison keepers were at loss to
know why be was concerned in so many
quarrels with the prisoners. He did not
dare tell them, because be did not suppose
he would be believed. He is more than
ordinary sharp; has good common educa
ton, ard read law for while with John
NJ. Lan6ston, of OberIin. He is a good
penman, and says counterfeiters used him
20 initiate signatures to their bills. He
learned the art of engraving no ,loubt to
make his services more valuable in the
counterfelting business. When arragned
before the bar for his late sentence, be
made short speechin his defence, in which
some points were made with considerable |
ability. His attorney, however did not
consider his case deiendable, the proof of
his having committed burglary being too
positive to be evaded. He goes to the
penitentiary for three years, but he toll
the jaitor before he left here he did not ex-
pect to live through the term. 1t is hard
to realize what there is in life to render it
desirable to him.