The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1879-07-29

[Sunday Mercury.l
"There ia an interesting character for
~" said Keeper Hennessey to the wri-
r, as he stood near the desk in the
oombs Prison. "He is but sstwentv-
K years old. and yet he has passed more
ian half OF his life in prison. The in
vidual referred TO stood few steps
way, leaning against cell-door. He
as dressed in pair of white duck trou-
RS, q shit and collar of decidedly
ncertaln hue, coat that bad probably
zen considerable service, and a hat that
'as probably new decadeSago. .Come
p here, Oney," said theSkeeper, and
,uey shamhled up, his face wresthed in
rims "Why dc they call you sOney?p !
ie lifted up both his arms. The left
and was missing entirely, and of the
light
ALL THAT REMAINED WAS TIE THUMB.
That's tae reason" he said, and his
ace tucked itself into another series of
,rins.
"Oney" is known on the BOOKS of the
various prisons and reformatory institu-
ions which he has honored by his pres
,nce as John Murphy. His real name is
Bernhard Luissner, and he is of German
descent. He was born in Wilmington.
DEL His father was a shipbuilder by
trade, and his mother, as he says himself.
was an excellent woman, but was a. terly
unable to do any thing with him. The
spirit Of "cussedness' was so strong in
him that neither moral suasion nor the
rattan could overcome it. He lost his
hauds through that One day his moth
er had given him severe beating. To
get "square'' with her the boy, who was
then scarcely more than seven wears of
age, strange as it may seem, went It, the
railroad track aud deliberately had his
HANDS CUT OF BY PASSING TRAIN.
He was confined to his bed for long
time, but when he recovered he was as
bad as ever. Unwilling to live any lon
ger under the paternal slipper. Bernhard
stole 800 from his mother and betook
himself to New York. Bernhard, how
ever, had but very few days to himself.
His mother followed him, and with The
assistance of the police soon bad him ar
raigned before Police Justice. Bern
hard was sent t. the Catholic Pretec.
tory, but with that peculiar ingenuity OF
his he escaped after remaining little
more than a year. He was caught and
sent to Blackwell's Island. In a very
short time he had gained the unenviable
designation of tue worst boy on the
Island. Persuasion and punishment
were equally of no effect to change him.
The officers ofthe institution had been
requested to keep sharp eye on him. as
otherwise he would escape. Great pre-
cautions were taken; but in spite OF all,
one fine morning "Oney" had disappear
ed. He had quietly dropped into the
river, aud, aided by the tide, swan over
to Astoria. Thence, after driving his
soaking clothing and leaving his jacket
behind him, be betook himself to New
York. "Oney" attempted to steal lady's
watch, was caught in the act, arrested,
recognized as an escaped member of
Randall's Island Colony and sent back.
He remained for little over year and
escaped again. From that time .Oney"
gradually acquired tue reputation OF be-
ing not only notorious character, but
also an expert in the art OF escaping.
He told the writer that be had, served
terms at Hart's Randall's and Blackwell
Islands, as we'll as the Penitentiayy. He
had twice been arrested and punished for
assault and battery. "The last time
knocked man off the Roof of afreight-
car on the Harlem line, ! was, working
for the road, and one evening as we went
out man climbed up and wanted to steal
ride. I told him to get. off, but he
wouldn't, so
JUST KNOCKED HIM OFF"
"Was the man hut badly 2" 81 guess
be was, for they gave me year for IL, il
/ remember" replied Oney, in the most
unconcerned manner. l 3ad
He then went on and said that he bad
twice been arrested for peti. larceny,
about ten times for yagrancy, and about
fifteen OF twenty times for intoxication
and disorderly conduct. "But I always
escaped,you see" with great glee. "Why,
intwo weeks was twice sentenced to
six months, and served neither term"
"Yes, / remembered" said keeper
Hennessey, "when was at Blackwell's
Island the only way in which / could
hold ban was by keeping him locked up
in cell. Give him the least little thing
to do outside and he would be- of
like phantom" Oney seemed not
little 1attered..at this acknowledgment Of
his dexterity. "Do you remember, " he
said, "what fuss they made the time
when escaped.
FROM THE ISLAND IN COFFIN 2"
Turning to the writer he added: "They
made the coffins for those who were TO
be buried in Potter's Field on the Island
at the time. One night | got into the
work-house, slii one OF the collins into
the water, laid down in it, and driftsd
down the stream With the tide. Whom I
got some distance of l used my hands
here he raised his stumps- as paddles.
But before l had gone very far / found
that the coffin leaked very badly, SO I got
out and swan ashore" iH 4a
For the past six years "Oney," kept
himself in Texas, where he herded cattle,
and as be added, killed Greasers and In
|dians when they stole horses or cattle. A
few weeks ago he came to this city "on
a visit" During his six years stay be
had saved, as he said, some $500. Zone
day last week." be said, II was standing
in West Twenty-third street watching
man cleaning carriage. A couple OF
fellows came up and began beating him
on the back with stats. vent up to
them and told them not to do it, but they
beat him the more. just then police
man who thought was encouraging the
boys to strike the man came up and
talked rough with me. Well, we had
some words, and guess he was going to
strike me with his club, 80 ! just drew
my Bowie-knife and cut him. didn't
cut him bad-just scratched him, you
know-and so got only five days City
Prison for it"
"Don'tsay any thing bad about me !;
for il you do, I'll never forgive you"
was his parting admonition, as be dived
into his cell, his face still drawn up into