The Conservative. (M'connelsville, Ohio) 1866-1871, 1867-01-11
Strange story OF a CouVIct- His
Bbdy IiteralIy a NeedIA-cush-

btEtAMke HtoEy Ol - NouNlCN-t tAIB
BODY LiteralIy a NeedIe-cush-
The Warren (o.) Chronicle, Of De.
esmber 20, has the following strange
story:s ~ et A.
Ed. Day colored, convicted of burg
larry atthe last term of the Court, was
taken last week to the Pontentiary,
making his third term at that institu-
ton. He seems to be an incorrigible
fellow, but claims to have been moro
sihned against than SHINING. Hoclaims
70 be the victim ofa merciless set Of
persecutors-an organized band of
thieves and counterfeiters.T Our read
ers will remember that we lately pub
lishsd two instanc in which surgeons
extracted needles from Edward Days
neck and breast while in jail awaiting
histrial u. Four large needles were
cut out Of his person, and tho surgeons
cay he hasa great many mOre-+perhaps
ffty-in different parts of his body
But as the needles do not seriously af-
feet him, except when they work to
some especially sensitive part, he does
not like to have the surgens operate on
him. We were present on one occas-
ion when he was being examined by a
surgeon, and'it was easy to observe the
locality ofneedles- in his face and neck
When frat asked how they camo 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 divulge, his Sc.
cret, under condition that itshould not
be made public until he was out of tho
way of his prosecutors. he claims that
his principal business has been to dis
cover tho schemes and rascahtiOs Of
CERTAIN parties, and then 10 black mail
them to keep him fromdivulging. Some
eight or ten years since the Trsasurer's
office in Ashtsbula county was robbed
Day claims that he was made cognizant
of the robbery, and employed 10 carry
several thousand dollars to a certain
party, but instead of doing SO he ap-
propristed 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
helpless condition hot needles W ere
forced into his flesh, and he was forced
TO swear eternal secrecy under penalty
of suffering like punishment fho did
not keep his promise. Two years ago
last summera party Of counterfeiteis
in this place, ,endeayored teengage him
to do some work for them. (Day is a
tolerable engravsr.) After finding out
their plans, he refused to do the work
but told them he wanted several hun
dred dollars hush money, One night
he was decoyed INTO a place on Main
Strest, knocked down, manaeled and
carried to a certain point ON back
street, and put 10 tortures that would
shame the cruiitics of the Spanish In
QUESTION. Oneplan was to tickle the
Eoles of his feet until he would faint
under the excruciating agony. After
somewhat reviving, hot-needles were
driven into his body, legs and arms
and cheeks. He says he knows the par
ties, but is afraid to make their names
public, How much truth there mAy
beih bis story, we will not pretend tC
say The fact that his body is literally
needle cushion, lOadi to the inferSncs
that some forclble means were proba
bly, used to place them there.
This strange story Of cruelty ahd
wickedness is hard to believe as having
occurred in these days yet there are
certain circumstances that in some do.
gree eorroborateS his statsmsnts. Had
sharp, discreet detective obtained the
confidence Of Day he might have
learned much that would haveaided in
unoarthing gangs of thieves and their
nefafious schemes. We have no doubt
thore aremany men at large who are
quite AZ deserving, tosay the least, o.
Days fate as himself Although he is
probably thief himself, he isl a sort Of
IshmaelitssamODg them, because Of bis
aNaM 49, pla.sllst . ss.fu