The Portland daily press., 1870-03-16
'"'S So'"o per onnuas, in ad,,auee.
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THE STORY OF A MAN WHO
IN TILE PENIrI,,r-rr . = -AootD HIS TINIl


| THE STORY OF A MAN WHO pAssv,,, ,,,u
IN THE PENITENTIARY PLEAS Pleas ms HIS TINE
In 1912, there lived in Monroa a.
Miss, painter named Wooley. He Uunty, S'oy
halfbreed-a at least there was a good desI "a q
Cherokee Indian in him. He owned aho'', y,
POO slaves, and had all the worst habits of tba
old time planter-drinking, gambling and
horse-stealing These pursuits, alternated.
formed his sole occupation, the plantation be-
ing managed by an overseer. He had the sole
virtue of possessing sort of Indian venera-
tion for the sacredness of his word. He would
not execute a note for any purpose whatever,
and held all men in supreme contempt who
violated their pledged word. He had no COM
junction in killing man in what he deemed
just quarrel; but his word was his bond.
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 of he had
killed several persons in gambling quarrels,
and was looked upon as man not to be cross
ed except at the risk of life.
One night, while playing cards in Columbus
quarrel arose about the game. His oppo-
nent was known desperate, and he gave the
lie to Wooley's statement about the game.
Bowies flashed out simultaneously-both were
slightly wounded, when a lucky blow laid
Wooley's opponent dead upon the floor. Next
ANihiu5 NoOlCy was dTTtSIeQ-drreSte0 be-
cause he did not care that it should be other
wise. Wooley had carried his killing SO far
that tne 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 TAILOR
was weak man-weak in courage and weak
to resist the influence of douceur. After
bearing his confinement for day or two,
Wooley sent for the jailor.
See here, jim" said he, "you know me
you know never break my word. Now, /
want to 60 out and have social game with
the boys You can just leave me the key, and
when it gets bed time l will come, lock my
self in and it will be all right"
This argument was enforced by material
considerations; and night after night Wooley
used to come out and enjoy his nocturnal lib
erty. The court sitting soon, he got the case
put OIL, and giving bail in the sum of $4,000,
was released.
AT the next term of the court, Wooley was
put upon trial; the jury returned verdict of
guilty, and the judge sentenced him to one
year in the penitentiary at Jackson. The pa
pers were duly made out, and the sheriff pro-
posed to start with him for Jackson, but Woo
ley demurred
"You know, sheriff." said he, I" that the
county is poor-can't afford the trip-and so
I'll just let my boy Caesar drive me down to
papers?''
The sheriff produced them, and ere he was
aware, Wooley seized them and put them into
his pocket.
"All right" said he; 81 shall be off to-
morrow morning"
The sheriff knew he had desperate man
to deal with, but when he reflected that Woo
ley never broke his word, and had, besides,
over 100000 worth of property he could not
move, he made virtue of necessity, and left
things to take their turn.
True 10 his word, Wooley left for Jackson
and in due time arrived. Putting up at the
Mansion House he sailed out, visited the gam
bling bells with which that town even then
abounded, and the next morning drove up to
the penitentiary. Entering the ward room he
inquired:
"Where shall 1 find the warden?"
am the man." said Col. Dickinson.
swell, Pve brought you a prisoner"
Where is e?" inquired the warden.
"Here-I am the man." and Wooley hand
ed ever the sherif7s 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 to
keep the man since he offered himself
"Now," said Wooley, "let's go through this
place and see how it looks" and through they
went. As they returned to the guard room,
WOoley had talked so pleasantly that the war
den felt reasured and said loosely:
snow, Mr.. Wooley, what branch of the
business do you think yon would like besJ?"
"To tell you the truth, Colonel" said Woo
ley," 1 never did days work in my life, and
Idon't think I'd like any of your cussed trades.
I'll tell you how we can fix it'll clerk for
you just for the name of the thing, and we'll
live jolliy together till the years up"
The warden saw he had character to deal
with, and concluded that man who wouldg go
into prison of his own accord, would not run
away, he acquiesced. Wooley staid his year
accordingly; nominal clerk or companion by
day, and gambler in Jackson by night. He
kept the ward-room supplied with Havanas,
and sly nook IN the Office always contained
the best of liquors. His year up he left unre-
GREETING but regretted, for at heart he was
good fellow and made the warden jovial
companion.
Such was justice forty years ago, but such
an incident as this could have hardly occur
red elsewhere