The union Democrat., 1870-03-26
y Remarkable prs~oacr.
THE STORY OF A MAN WHO PAsSFp MS TINE IN
THE PENIrENrIARr PLEASANTLY.

THE STORY OF MAN WHO PAssRp MS TINE IN
The PENlrrNrIARr rLEAsANrLr.
(F4em the Jackson Cstinenl
In 1912 there lived in Monroe county,
Miss, a planter named Wcolev. He was a
half-breed. at least there was good deal of
Cherokee Indian in him. lie owned about
200 slaves, and had all the worst habits of the
old time planter-drinking. gambling and
horse-racing. These pursuits alternated form
ed his sole occupation. the plantation being
managed by au overseer. lie had the sole
virtue of possessing soul of Indian venera-
tion for the sacre3ness his word lie would
not execute G note for any purchase whatever
and held all men in sovereign contempt who
i violated their pledged word. He had no COM
punction in killing a man in what he deemed
a just quarrel: but his word was his hond.
| This was his well-known character. and he
could have got credit for thousands on his
word easier than other men could have got
hundreds. At the time we speak Q. he had
killed several persons in gambling quarre!s,
and he was looked upon as n man not to be
crossed except at the risk of life.
One night, while playing cards in Colun-
bus, quarrel arose about the game. His op-
| porent was known desperado, and he gave
the lie to Woolev's statement about the game
Bow,es flashed out simultaneously-ho.h were
| slightly wounded, when lucky blow laid
Wooley's opponent dead upon the floor. Next
morning Wooey was arrested-arrested be-
cause he did not care that il should be othei-
wise. Wooley had carried his killing so far
that the Judge felt bound to commit him. in
order to avoid the imputation of being affected
either by fear Of his desperadoism or wealth.
Accordingly to Jail went Wooley. The iailor
was weak man-weak in courage and weak
to resist the influence of douceur After
bearing his confinement for 0ay or two,
Wooley sent for the iailor.
See here, JIM" said he. "you know me.
you know never break my word. Now |
want to go out and have a social game with
the boys. You can just leave me the key,
and when it gets bed time will come, lock
myselfin. and it will be all right
This arrangement was enforced by material
considerations and night after night Wooley
used to come out and enjoy bis nocturnal lib
erty. The Court sitting soon, he got the case
put off, and giving bail in the sum of SO 900
was released.
At the next term of the Court, Wooley was
put upon trial the jury returned a verdict Of
| guilty, the Judges sentenced him to one year
in the penitentiary at jackson. The papers
to start with him for jackson, but Wooley
demurred.
"You know, Sheriff." said he, that the
county is poor-can't afford the trip-and so
I'll Just let nv boy Caesar drive me down to
jackson. and save all the expense. Got the
papers ?"
TIE Sheriff produced them. and. ere he was
aware, Wooley seized them and put them in
his pocket.
"All right" said he, 81 shall be off to-
morrow morning"
The Sheriff knew he bad n desperate man
to deal with but when he reflected that Wool
ey never broke his word, and had. besides,
over Sl00, 900 worth of property he could not
move. be made virtue of necessity, and left
things to take their turn. 5z e'
True to his word Woolev left for Jackson,
and in time arrived. Putting up at The Man
sion House, he sailed out, visited all the gam
| bling hells with which that town even
| abounde3, and the next morning drove up to
the penitentiary. Entering the ward room,
he inquired
Where shall I find the Warden?"
81 am the man. said Colonel Dickson.
"Well. I've brought you prisoner"
"Where is he =? y, inquired the Warden.
''lIere l am the man." and Wooley hand
ed over the Sheritfs mittimus.
The Warden was amazed. Had he lunat-
ic to deal with or had the man killed the
Sheriff, and then come to the prison to defy
him? He could not tell but he determined
quickly to keep the man, since he offered him
self
"Now." said Wooley, "let's go through
this place and see how it looks. y end through
they went. AS they returned to the guard
room. Wooley had talke so pleasantly that
the Warden felt reassured, and said loosely !:
Now, Mr.. Wooley. what branch of the
business do you think you would like hest J"
''To tell the truth, colonel said Wooley.
II never did days work in my life, end
don't think I'd like any of your cussed trades
III tell you how we can fix it'll clerk for
YOU. just for the name of the thing. and well
live iolily together, till the years up"
The Warden saw he had character to deal
with, and concluded that a man who would
go into prison of his own accord, would rot
run away. and acquiesced. Wooley staid bis
year accordingly; nominal clerk or compan-
ion by day and gambler in jackson by light
He kept the ward-room supplied with Havan-
as, and sly nook in the office always contained
the best of liquors. His year up. he left un-
regretting but regretted. for at heart he was
a good fellow, and made the Warden good
companion.
| INDIFFERENCE OF Az ILLINOIS BELLE.-The
i Galena Gazette says:
| A young lady in the south part of this
county engaged herself TO three different
lovers. The young men, on learning the SIT