The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1882-06-29
A LIFE HISTORY.
Tho Sorrows and Tribulations. of . Dis
charged Convict. =

rho Sorrows and Tribulations. of . Dis
charged, Convict. 3
AT II O'Clock last night the door OF tn
Harrison street station opened slowly, ant
there entered tall, stoop-shouldered man
about 81 or 80 years OF age, who, as he ap
preached the station.keeper's desk, re
moved wide-brimmed, SLOUGH hat, reveal
ing closely cropped head, a pair Of small
inHamed eyes, high chesk-bones, beneath
which were great. hollows, parched, thir
lips, and stubby, sandy moustache,, >,
"What do you. want demanded tht
station.keeper, and the stranger in reply.
inc related a story Of his own life that held
his hearers almost spellbound.
''My name is William Hayes. | was dis
charged Saturday from the Michigan City
Und0 penitentiaiy, where ! served four.
teen wears, lacking year and two months,
which gained by good behavior. worked
in the cooper.shop," turning up his bony
hands with their long, hard, big-jointed fin.
gers for the inspection of the officers, "and
by working hard made $500 in extras,
which was given me when | came away.
To-day arrived in Chicago, and, like q
fool, began drinking whisky. Tonight !
went down to the Lake Front, got mixed
up with lot of roughs, and was robbed oil
my money and watch ana e clal1 D.,
"No, would not. don't want any man
arrested on my account; all want is place
to stay tonight"
Assuring him that he might stay, the sta
ton .keeper asked him what he had done to
get so long a sentence.
"Manslaughter," was the reply. VI was
sent down for killing one of the best friends
ever had Here the tears started from his
eyes, he seemed to lose control over himself
and bis statements lost the clearness that
they exhibited at first.
~ never meant to kill him." no cried
piteously, burying his :tace in his hands
II swear to God never killed HIM inten-
tionally. We had Travelled together for
eight years Goodman and me. we wer
partners. and always together. We were at
Kokomo one day, and both drank some. I
had revolver, and We didn't think 1t was
any good. Billy says he, let's so and try
it, and we were going out on the river. |
had II in my hand, and it was cooked, l
didn't mean to, but it went off through
our fooling, and it shot him. The ball went
through his heart, and he died in my arms.
Poor boy He's haunted me day and night
for these long, long years, and I've wanted
to die, oh, so much | tried to
kill myself in prison three or
four times, out / didn't do it,
tried to-day to get some poison and no
one would sell It to me- No one will
help me, no one thinks anything of a man
after he's been behind the iron bars the way
have. They shun him and hate him.
Oh, If | could only die. ! see his dead
white face now iust as he lay there. l
picked him up and carried him to the doc
tors, but he couldn't help him, He was
dead. / had killed him. My best friend,
my partner. Oh, God, didn'n mean it.
They said shot him because / wanted to
kill him.. They tried me and they con.
victed me. And year after year I've worked
In the old prison, feeling that they oughtn't
to have sent me there. How | suf-
fered How in the night | would lie
awake and see my poor partners face look
ing ut me. He knew didn't mean to; he
knew it was wrong to sentence me. And
now am an outcast. My money 10 gone.
| have no friends, no house, not one in this
world that cares for me. / didn't want to
come away from there. want to 60 back.
want to de-
Again he wept and the officer led him
gently to the eell-room where was shut up
In cell provided for dodgers. He took hold
of the bars in caressing sort of way, and
seemed to feel that he was again at home.
Poor fellowl--[Chlcago Tribune. Isl.