The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1870-04-07
A REMARKABLE PRISONER.

All 1OOA-N tuCIC HNGQ III UlOsITUS SOuns
ty, Mississippi, a planter named Wooley.
He was half-breed, at east there vas a
good deal of Cherokee Ineisa IN hirt Ee
owned about two hundfef slaves, and had
all the worst habits Of the old-time plant
er--drinkfhg, gambling and horse racing
These pursuits 2ltsEnated formed his sole
occupation, the plaatation being managed
by an 0tsFeeer. He had the sole ffrtte
Of possessing sort of Indian veneratioa
for the sacredness of his word. He would
not execute note for any purchase whats
ever, and held all men in sovereign cons
tempt who violated their pledged word
He had no compunction In killing a man
in what he deemed just quarrel bat his
word was his bond. This was his we'll
known character, and ne coula have got
credit FOR thousands on BIS, word easier
than other men could have GOT Hundreds
At the time we speak of he had killed
several persons in gambling suarrels, and
he was looked pPOn rs nan not 80 te
crossed 1copt at the risk of Fife.
One Nasstt while playing cards in Col.
un4bI1e, a q'uarrsf arose about the game.
Ills opponent was a known desperado,
s1nd he gave the lie to WooIey's stateth@IiIit;
aboGt the game. fowies flashed out sim
ultanecuaT-Sothw were slightly wounded,
when BaaIsy blow laid Wooley's eppo-
nent dead upon the soor. Ee.yt rsorn,ng
WoolsT was Hed--a+sested because
he did rot care that it should be other
wioe. sFooley had carried his kfafng 90
for 1-R he 1,HUo EoIk 6O,,ol 10 .
him, in order to avoid the Mrputatio1 of
being effected either Sy fear Of his desper-
ss9bisme OF wealth. Accordingly to Jail
vent yFooFeJ. T'he jailor was a weak
man-weak in courage and weak to resist
the influence of a douceur, After bearing
his confinement for day CT swo Woody
se34 sor tae jaiiot. s,.s
''Eee here Jin," said he, 'yo.' sgygrefs
me ye1 know ! never break my word
Row, I want togo out and have a social
game with the boys. You can just leave
me tie hey and when it gets bed time |
will come, lock psyseIf in, and It Will lie
all right.'
This argan,esaf was easor:t6.s5 81 material
considerations and night after, night
NooIey used to coE,e out and enjoy his
nocturnal liberty The court sitting soon,
he got the case put off, and giving bail "a
the sum of StO,oO was released.
At the next term Oft eopqt. Wocley
wac put upon trial the lEry retts'nef 81
verdict of guilty.. aad the judge sentenced
him to one year in the penItentiary at
,Jacksors The papers Were duly made
out, and the sheriff proposed to start ",ith
him for jackson, bht Wooley demurred
'sTou know, sheriff. said be, 'sstHat the
country is poor cant afford the trip-and
so I'll Just let my boy Caesar drive me
down to Jackson, and save all expenses.
Got the papers p
The sheriff produced them, and ere he
was aware, Wooiey seized them and pu;
them in his pocket.
"AlI right" said he; 81 shall be off
to- morrow ntprning."
The siieriT Tkrew he had desperate
customer to deal yNitil. but y4te7,' he re-
fhated ti.at Waelef He1ei, Broke lis word,
assd iiadi, ueaides, ever $780, 900 worth
Of property he. could moves he made a
virtue o9 necessity and left tiing5 to take
their turn.
trne to .i:s word Wooley left for Jack
sen and in tia1e arrived. Putting up at
the Mansion House he sailed out, visited
all.the gambling hellswith which thae tow,
even then abounded, and the ne:St morn
ing drove up t6'tise penitentiary. Enter
ihg the ward roor.i, lie i1gnired ::
"Where shall i find the warden -
s'I am the MARY, .asiitit Colonel Eickeon
'.Nsell,. I've brought you priEDfer. :"
''Whers In he = !, inqpired the warden.
"Here, | am the man, aud. iNooleY
handed over the sheriff's mittimuG
The v..udens was amazed. He kEG a
lunatic to.deal with, or had the man, ls;Il'
edi the sheriff and, them come TO tile' pr;son
to defy him,2 He could npt-tell /; but be
determined quickly to keep the man, since
he offered himself 4ss
''Now," said Wooiey; Slet 'sgu through
this place ard see how it looks" and
through they went. As they returned to
the goard room. Wooley had; talked, SO
pleasantly that the warden. felt treasured
and said jocosely:
'tNow,, Mr.. Wooley, what branch Of
.sse business do you think you would
like BEST p
ssTo tell the truth, colonel said Wool
ey,,' Hf never did days work in my life,
and L don't think I'd like any of your
opssed tradeGsea I'll tell you how we can
fix 4, '4slt CLERK f6f yous. just for the name
of the thing. and we'll live jplIily together
till the years uP'f
The warden saw tl.as he had a cbarac
fer to deal with,, and'concluded that mar
who would 90 info'prisol on His own &C
cord, would not run away and'acs shiesced
Wooley stayed his year accordingly
nominal clerk or companlor' by day. anc
a gambler by night. He kept the. ware
room supplied with Havanas, and' e d,
nook in the Office always contained th
best of liquors Ris year up; he left or