Smyrna times., 1870-10-05
WfSc e/IUn e 0uS.
A Remarkable Prisoner.

In 1912 there lived in Monroe countv Mis-
SlsSlppl planter named Wooley. He was a
WLdieu' ieeu' at ieast there was good deal of
cherokee Indian in him. He owned ahont
Two hundred slaves and had all the worst bah h.
lCS OF the old-tIme planter-drinking. gambling
ana h0rSe-raclng. These pursuits alternately
!oriheu MS sole occupation, the plantation be
ing managed by an OverSeer He had the cole
virtue OF possessing sort of Indian veneration
Tor the sacredness of his word. He wonId not
execute note for any purpose whatever. and
"G'u al men IN sovereign contempt who violat
ed their pledged word. He bad no commune.
tlon IN Killing man in what he deemed lust
quarrel but his word was his bond This was
his wel-known character, and he couId boTo ~a
got credit for thousands on his word easier than
other men could have got hundreds. AT the
time we speak OF he had killed several persons
III gambling quarrelS, and be was looked unon
as man not to be crossed except at the risk Of
life. "' 'n0 il0A Vi
One night while playing cards in Columbus,
quarrel arose about the game His Oppo-
nent was known desperate, and he gave tho
ne 10 " Ooey statement about the game
PoWleS Mashed out slmultaneously-bothw were
slightly wounded when luck blow laid Wool
ey opponent dead upon the floor Next
morning NOOley was arrested-arreSted he
cause ne dld not care that it should be other
wise. Wooley had carried his killing so far
th3t the Judge felt bound to commit him. in
oiGer TO AVOID the imputatiOn of being affected
either by fear of his desperadoism or wealtb
According ly to Jail went Wooey. The TAILOR
was weak man-weak in courage and veal
10 resist the influence of douceur. After
bearing his confinement for a day OF two
Wooley sent for the jailor.
See here Jim, said he, "you know me
know |
want to go out and have social game with the
boys You can just leave me the kew and
when 1t gets bed time [ will come, lock myself
in, and it will be all right"
Ihls argument was enforced by material con-
slderatiOns and night after night Woolev nsed
to come out and enjoy his nocturnal liberty
lhe court sitting soon he got the case put off
ana giving bail In the sum of $4,000, was re-
leased. WIS ~
At the next term of court Woolev was mt
upon trial the jury returned a verdict of gnil
y, ana the Judge sentenced to him one year in
the pententlary at jackson. The papers were
duly made out, and the sheriff proposed to
INJURED. '"' ooiey oe-
You know, sheriff, +" said he "tbat the
country G1I Is poor--can afford the trip-and SO
IL let my boy Caesar drive me down to Jsck.
son ~ and save all expense. Got the papers p
1he sheriff produced them, and, ere he was
aware, Wooey seized them and put them in
his pocket '"0H !"
"All right said he, "I shall be off to-mor-
row morning" " -'0i
The sheriff knew he had desperate custo-
mer I1t to deal with, but when he reflected that
WOoley never broke his word, and had. he.
sides, over $780, 600 worth of property he conId
move, he made virtue of necessity and left
things to take their turn
True to his word Wooley left for jackson |
and IN time arrived. Putting up at the Man |
sion House he sailed out, visiting all the gamb- |
ing hells with which that town even then
abOunded, and the next morning drove up 10
the penltentiary. Entering the room, he in
quired:
" Where shall find the warden?"
am the man" said Col. Dickson.
Well, I've brought you prisoner
Where is he ?" inquired the warden.
Here, L am the man, and Wooley hand
ed over the sheriff's mittimus.
The warden was amazed. Had he lunatic
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 70
Keep the man since he offered himself.
Now, said Wooley, i let s 20 through this
place to see how it looks" and through thew
EeHt. AS they returned to the guard room,
NoOley had talked so pleasantly that the war
len felt reassured and said jocosely.
Now, Mr.; Wooley, what branch of bust .
less do you think you would like best ?''
"To tell the truth, Colonel" said Woolev
: never did days work in my life, and | =
lon't think I'd like any of your cussed trades )
I'll tell you how we can fix it, I'llclerk for You
ust for the name of the thing, and we'll live
oily together till the years up"
The warden saw he had a character to deal $
With, aud concluded that man who would 90 /
nto prison on his own accord, would not run a
way, and acquiesced. Wooey STAYED his b
ear accordingly; nominal clerk or companion n
y day, and gambler in jackson by plight. n
4 n kan ha pd Il = III -