Sturgis advertiser. (Sturgis, Dakota [S.D.]) 1887-1???, 1888-10-04
IMPRISONED FOR LIFE.
Little Linville Combs. the Kentucky
Lad who Killed His Sister.

The most youthful white criminal ever
confined within the penitentiary has
been brought to Frankfort, KY. He was
so childish in appearance that the Off
cials of the penitentiary, when informed
by the Sheriff Of Breathitt county that
he had come to leave them a prisoner,
remarked almost in unison:
s'My God you're TESTING, are you
mote That is q baby, and this is no
baby farmi''
The boys name is Linyille Combs.
He was IL years old last March, weighs
seventy pounds, and is a little upward
Of four feet in height. He murdered q
sister 8 years old, and was sent up for
life. To-day he was called from his work
10 tell all he knew Of himself, and he en-
tered the cell house with his dark eyes
opened wide in astonishment that any
one here could have any business with
him. He was asked his name and re-
piled: "Linville Combs, Of Breathitt
county"
Sitting on chair twiring straw hat
m his hands, pushing backward and for
ward and with his feet barely touching
thc ground, he looked SO innocent it was
hard 10 believe he had but three months
ngO committed the crime of sororicide.
Tho family live about twenty miles from
JAekson, on branch appropriately
nszAsa Troublesome. He said his moth
eFS name was Dee-Hinks Combs, and
TINT his fathers name was, Barlow Sta
cey. Uhile his mother lived with Samps
CtMinR In his mothers home there
EsaD f0nr children besides himself. the
yoazngeat being Mamie Belle Combs, an
SnEanA not quite years of age.
Said Linnville, when asked why he
killed her.
swell, Samps Collins told me he'd
giye me pair Of boots and suspenders
Il ia do it,
seTell how you did it?"
siShe was just walking along the floor
and hit her on the head with skillet.
Hhe fell over into the fire, but she was
dead already. ] pulled her out of the.
fire and threw her into the creek.
In that artless way he related the.
horrible deed, and said within half
hour Jennie Campbell, girl related to
him, saw the body floating on the water,
and that he ran out and told her that he
had killed Mamie Belle himself. He
then waded into the creek and drew the
body ashore. It was buried, and all talk
about it hushed up by the family, ex-
oepting on the part of the little boy HIM
self. who, was quite proud of the deed,
ms well as ignorant Of its consequences.
In about month he was arrested and
taken to jackson, where he frankly re-
hated the story to the Court and jury.
Collins was arrested and put on trial,
but subsequently released because there
was no proof of his instigation of the
crime, excepting the statement of a
child-an infant in law, whose oath and
testimony could not be accepted by the
Court. Linnville, however, was SEN
fenced to the penitentiary for life.
The boy-or baby convict-says he
nsver went to school, but attended once
or twice Sunday school.
When asked If he didn't know he
wuuld be punished for his crime, he
xaid:
whats that?"
He was then asked if he didn't know
he did wrong in killing his sister, and
xaght to be hanged for it.
He replied: s'No. just killed her.
camps Collins told me to do it.
'sDid you ever hear about the Lord at
Sunday school, Lindville?"
AtNo, I don't know nothing bout
Ain."
He is with all his blind illiteracy,
very intelligent-looking brisht-eyed
e1ila, who under system of mental
aud moral training, would doubtless i'll
ahs coarse of years develop into use
fnl eihzen, regretting and representing
Eas crime that makes life convict OF
2nns. An appeal was made in his behalf
M ibe, Executive office, but rs Gov.
BasAner was absent from the city, and
Aaeat-Go Bryan not yet installed and
acaing in his stead, the matter was
dropped for the present, and the boy
Eegalarly entered and domiciled with
IN mo walls. He was set ut work Gaming
sshans, and seems as quiet and cheerful
as boys of his age usually are when
osDpelled against their wishes to per-
form labor Of any kind.