The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1888-08-02
A YOUTHFUL CONVICT.
The Youngest Criminal Ever Confined
in the kentucky PeniJentiary.

The Youngest Criminal Ever Confined
in the Kentucky PeniJentiary
FRANKFORT, KY, July 1S.-The most
youthful white criminal ever coufiued
within the pepitentiary was brought here
Yesterday. He was so childish i'll appear
ance that the officials of the penitentiary,
when informed by the sheriff of Breathitt
county that he had come to leave him a
prisoner, remarked, in almost one breath,
''My God, you're testing, aren't you, that's
baby, ard this is no baby farm" The
boys name is Lynvile Combs. He YVES
II Yeas old last March, W, ighs 20 pounds
and is little upward of feet in height.
He murdered little sister years old, and
was sent up for life. To-day the little
fellow was called from his work to tell all
he knaw of himself, and he entered the
ce!l-hUuse with his dark-brown eyes open
wide in astonishment that any one here
could have any business with him. He
was asked his name, and replied
"Lynville Combs, of Brea,hitt county"
The family live about twenty
miles from jackson on branch
appropriately named Troublesome"
From what the child states the mother is
doub less living in adultery. He said his
mothers name was Deehxinks Combs, and
that his fathers name was Barlow acey,
while his mother lived with Samps Col
Inns. In his mothers home there were four
children besides himself, the youngest
being Mamie Belle Combs an infant not
quite years of age,
Said Lynnville, when asked why he
killed her; swell, Samps Collins told me
ha' friu nf hnnts AID
penders if I'd do it."
"Tell how you did it,"
"She was just walking along the floor
and hit her on the head with a 81 ilet.
She fell over into the fire, bnt she was
dead already. pulled her out Of the fire
and threw her into the creek"
In that artess way he related the horri-
BILE deed, and said that within half-hour
Jennie Campbell, a girl related to him,
saw the body floating on the water, and
that he ran out and told her had killed
| Mamie Belle himself. He then waded in
to the creek and drew the body ashore. 1t
was buried, and all talk about it hushed up
by the family, excepting on the part of
the little boy himself, who was quite
proud of his deed, as well as ignorant of
its consequences.
In about month he was arrested and
taken to Jackson, where he frankly re-
lated the story to the court and jury
Collins was arrested and put or trial, but
subsequently released, because there was
no proof of his instigation Of the crime,
excepting the statement of q child-an in
FAINT, in law, whose oath and testimony
could not be accepted by the court.
Lynnville, however, was sentenced to the
ptnitentiary for life-a blushing shame
upon Kentucky for not providing a more
suitable house of reformation for such
| juvenile offenders. The boy, or baby
convict, says he never went to school, but
a tended once or twice Sunday school.
Did you ever hear about the Lord at
Sunday school, Lynnville?"
"No, doni know nothing about Him."
AN appeal was made in his behalf at the
executive Office, but as Governor Buckner
was absent from the city and Lieutenant
governor Bryan not yet installed and act
ing in his stead, the matter was dropped
for the present, and the boy was set at
work Gaming chairs, and seems as quiet
and cheerful as boys of his age usually
ale when compelled against their wishes
to perform labor of any kind.