The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1871-01-07
A REMARKABLE PRISONER.
A St0ry Of a Man Who Passed His
Time i'm the Penitentiary
Pleasantly.

WOOley. He was q half-Dreed; AT
least there was a good deal OF Cher
okee Indian in him. He owned about
one hundred slaves, and had all the
worst habits of the old time planter
- drinking, gambling and horse
racing. These pursuits alternately
formed his sole occupation, the plan
tation being managed by an over
seer. He had the sole virtue OF pos
sessing a soul Of Indian veneration
for the sacredness Of his word. He
would not execute a note for any
purpose whatever, and held all men
in sovereign contempt who violated
their pledged words. He had no
conjunction in killing a man in
what he deemed a just quarrel; but
his word was his bond. This was
his well known characteristic, and
he could have got for thousands on
his word easier than other men could
hundreds. At the time we speak OF
he had killed several persons in gam
bling Quarrels, and he was looked
upon as man not to be crossed ex-
cept at the risk of life.
One night, while playing cards in
Columbus, quarrel arose about the
game. His opponent was a well
| known desperate, and gave the lie
to Wooley's statement about the
game.
Bowies flashed out simultaneously
both were slightly wounded, when
lucky blow laid Wooley's opponent
dead on the floor. Next morning
Wooley was arrested - arrested be
cause he did not care that it should
be otherwise. Wooley carried his
killing so far that the judge felt
bound to commit him, in order to
avoid the imputation Of being affect
ed either by fear of his desperadoism
or wealth. Accordingly, to Jail went
Wooley. The jailor was a weak man
weak in courage, and weak to re-
sist the influence of a doucer. After
bearing his confinement for a 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 go out
and have social game with the
boys. You can just leave me the
key, and when it gets bed time l
will come back, lock myself in, and
it will be all right"
| This arrangement was enforceAby
material considerations ; and night
after night the prisoner used to come
out and enjoy his nocturnal liberty
The court sitting soon, he got the
case put off, and giving bail to the
amount of ten thousand dollars, was
released.
! At the next term of court Wooley
was put on 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 proposed 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 my boy CR
sar drive me down to Jackson, anC
save the expense. Got the papers 2
The sheriff produced them, an6
ere he was aware, Wooley seizee
them and put them in his pocket.
"All right" said he, II shall bt
; off tomorrow morning.
The sheriff knew he had desper
; ate man to deal with, but when III
!. reflected that Wooley never broke
his word, and had, besides, over ont
hundred thousand dollars worth o
,, property he could not move, made
virtue of necessity, and let things
, take their turn.
True to his word, Wooley left TO
jackson, and in time arrived. Put
ting up at the. Mansion House, h
sailed out, visited all the gambling
hells with which that town thel
abounded, and next morning droy'
up to the penitentiary. Entering
: the ward room, he inquired:
,, aWhere shall / find the warden ?
! II am the man, said Col. Diekin
! son.
c1 ssWell, I've brought you a priS
Ioner.n
a sWhere is he n inquired the wal
thn.
stHere; Tam the man, And Woo
leyhanded over the sherif's mitt
mus
TIE warden was amazed. Had b
70 a lunstic to deal with, or had tn
t. man Glled the sheriff, and the
u come to the prison to hims Il
could moi tell; but he determine
$ quickly tokeep the mar, since b
j offered himself.
tsNoW, aid Wooley, "let's g
through thisplace and see how
,ts looks.n And through they went. A
AZ AZ they returned to the guard room
sir Wooley had 'alked 50 pleasant
d, that the Wardea felt reassured, an
et g. said loosely:
on aNoW, Mr.. Wsoley, what branc
of the business .oh you think 20
would like best ~
i ITO tell the TRUTH Colonel sal
g. ): Wooley, stI never dh a days wor
on in my life, and / DOM think I'd ik
u any of your eussed tribes. I'll te
Is ,s' YOU how we can fix it1~r1l clerk fl
e ss you, just for the name # the thin,
ii; and we'll live JOLLY t,gether, ii
tie the year is up
ae .. The warden saw he hal chara
;hh, H. | ter to deal with, and conchded ths
g. a man who would go to prism of b
tel n,rrr, annnTd wnI1Id NOT rIIla arrn,