The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1874-08-13
A College Prank with a Serious
Ending.

An affecting incident occurred afew days
ago in the Jacksonville 1nd.) Peniten-
tiary. A lady from the central part of In
diana had accepted an invitation to take a
stroll through the prison. In company
with several others she was shown the va
rious departments, and as the party pro-
ceeded, occasionally an allusiOn would be
made by the guard to the more notable of
the prisoners within the high walls.
In going through one of the rooms,
young man dressed in full convict costume
was observed standing over box which
had just been opened. One of the party
remarked that the box contained tempt
ing lot of cake, jellies and cOnfections.
The guard casually rejoined that THAT was
a sad case" The young man happening
to hear the conversation looked up and
observed the persons in the room. he
was about to resume his work of unpack-
ing the box, when his eye fell upon the
lady referred to above. With cry, partly
of joy and partly of grief, ne rushed to-
ward her and kissed her before either she
or the others could recover from their as
constituent. Seeing the general surprise,
he exclaimed, s'Why, don't you know me?
You are Eddie C4's mother" The
lady then recognized in the convict
young man about eighteen years old, from
the city in which she resided. He had
been convicted of burglary about three
months before, and had been sentenced for
two years in the State Penitentiary.
His case was peculiarly sad one. He
was connected with one of the best fami-
lies in this section, and was a. young man
of great promise. tie was gifted with an
unusual inventive faculty, and was fond OF
playing all sorts of pranks. The town in
which he lived was more OF country VII
lage than city, and was but short dis
lance from neighboring town OF about
the same size. Together with number OF
college companions he organized band OF
"MOdocs," of which he was chosen leader.
They made frequent excursions at night
about the country, doing nothing for which
they could be held amenable befOrea court
of law. They always went out on pro-
fessed frOlic, intending only to have fun.
One night they concluded to visit the
neighbOring town and enter the store of a
certain man and take some articles, conceal
them. and after the excitement would have
subsidized, to return them. In order to eff
feet their design their leader invented a
number of keys to fit the locks of the store, |
and, on the night appointed, the boys went
to the town, entered the store and took out
some boots and other articles ofsmall value. !
The theft was of course discovered the !
next day by the proprietor and the author
tiles notified. One of the boys engaged |
in the affair day or two afterward made |
some mention of the affair to outside per- |
sons, and as soon as the report became |
generally known the whole party was ar
rested on the charge of burglary. As soon |
as they were taken into custody the prop
erty stolen was given up uninjured. The |
trial came off at the ensuing term of the /
Criminal Court, and the indictments 1
against them were all quashed except that I
against their LEADER The jury could of |
course return norOther verdict than guilty, |
every legal means was used TO /
effect his discharge. He was consequently I
taken from the college he was attending |
and sent TO prison. There was great sym