Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1883-09-10
A DYIaG CONVICT
In the GeOFgiaPe nitentiaFy Tells
the Interesting histOFy Drills
Lie OF Crime.
speolnl . Ind oonrlsr.Journal.

SENNA8A " ~ 2NAAA
ATLANTA, September Henry
Robinson, 9 convict who is under
sentence for burglary, from Troupe
county, is in q dying condition in the
~penitentiary hospital from a wound re-
oeived Wednesday night while at
tempting TO escape. Robinson is q
professional ~craeksman, and has led a
desperate life for years. He is a we'll
educated and dangerous man. His
knowledge OF mechanics is fa~ultless,
as he has successfully demonstrated
since being assigned to camp. BY
some means not yet known to the
lessees, Robinson secured an old case
knife several days ago. This he con-
verified into q perfect saw and with it
made his escape Wednesday night,
That night he went to his bunk with
shaokles on both legs. In the bunk
next to him was a white man named
Wade, who was also shackled in the
same manner. Between the time
when he was assigned to bunk and /
o'clock he cut the shackles of, and
also the shackles off Wade. Thtn
with the same knife OF saw he cut his
way through tile wall when the guards
back was turned and sprang through
the hole and ran, The guard
detected the escape almost before the
men were out, and jumping to the
door aimed at the one in advance, who
was Wade, and the gun refused to
fire. The second effort was more sue
c%essful, and the barrel pointed at
Robinson went off. emptying the con-
tents into the o~onviot's back. Stimuli.
tane0usly with the report Robinson
dropped to the ground, and when the
guard reached his side il was quito
apparent that the convict was fatally
wounded. He was carried into the
hospital. Robinson's history is in.
teresting. He believes be is going to
die, and, whenever his physician will
permit him to talk, he gives a chapter
Of his career. According TO his story,
he belongs to an honorable family, but
refuses to disgrace it further by giving
his name. He was received in camp
on the Both of April last. In Feb
ruary last he cracked q safe in La,
grange, and this was the crime for
which he received his sentence. He
says that he is q Kentuekian by birth,
aud that he is tho son OF a physician.
He has a brother in the United States
Congress and a brother who is a re-
tired army officer, living in Missouri.
During the war he had a
brother who wore the commits.
sion Of a Colonel in the United States
army and a brother in the Confederate
army. He admits that he has been .
crook all his lite, and says that his
father has given him many a whipping
for bad habits when a boy. He pro.
fesses an acquaintance with all the
noted crooks, and tells Of a long list
Of safes he has blown during his ca.
reer. The final chapter Of his life il
a romantic one. Several months age
he gathered together about $1,000 and
went to Florida, resolved To do right
At Bluff Springs he met a lady who
occupied a fne social position. They
loved and married. After the wed.
ding they went of on a bridal trip
and when they got back to Florida ht
had but SIS left out of his $1,000. HI
realized the necessity Of raising Q
stake, and, telling his wife he wal
going to Georgia to get a legacy, hi
came away to meet his doom. II,
reached Lagrange, and after reconnoi
tering, decided on a safe. He goI
everything in readiness and picked hi
night, but bis plans we're thwarted
Next night he succeeded, but the blow
yielded him only SlS. Had he beer
, successful the first night he would
! have gotten $500, as there was tina
amount in the safe. He intended Il
get the money to return 10 El5rida aat
live q correct life. He declares tina
be would have been able to get of hat
he not been flushed the first night
, Since be has been serving his tern
here a lady who signs herself as Mrs
Wilson has written several letter
from Bluff Springs, Fla, inquiring foI
her husband, who is Robinson. Sh.
i learned Of his arrest, but did mo-
, know what became Of him. Robinson
, has q dozen different names, but be
! yond stating that he came from Ken
lucky he declined to tell anything
concerning his origin. He is abou
: t~hirtysfvo years of age and has a goo
face for a convict. Since being i
convict camp he has made several at
i tempts to get away. When he wa
turned.over to the lessees. he was attire
in q genteel suit. He wore a whit
shirt. a nobby oravat and boxto
boots. His general appearance, con
duct aud language indicated goo,
raising, but bis career is now ended