Iuka reporter. (Iuka, Miss.) 1888-1894, 1888-10-04
IMPRIsONED5 NR LIFE.
LfttSo LinvilIe Combs, the Kentucky
Lad Who Killed His Sister.

Adu w NO hIlleu his SlSter
The most youthful white criminal ever
confined within the penitentiary has
been brought to Frankfort, KY. He was
80 childish in appearance that the off,
Gals OF the penitentiary, when informed
by the Sheriff Of Breathitt county that
he had come to leave them q prisoner,
remarked almost in unison:
my God you're testing, are you
notS. That is baby, and this is no
baby farml"
The boys name is Linville Combs.
He was IL years old last March, weighs
seventy pounds, and is little upward
of four feet in height. He murdered o
sister 8 years old, and was sent up for
life. To-day he was called from his work
to 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, o; Breathitt
county"
Sitting on chair twirling straw hat
in his hands, pushing backward and for
ward and with his feet barely touching
the ground, he looked SO innocent it was
hard to believe he had but three months
ago committed the crime Of sororicide.
The family live about twenty miles from
jackson, on branch appropriately
named Troublesome. He said his moth
ers name was Dee Kinks Combs, and
that his fathers name was Barlow Sta
cey, while his mother lived with Samps
Collins. In his mothers home there
were four children besides himself, the
youngest being Mamie Belle Combs, an
infant not quite years Of age.
Said Linnville, when asked why he
killed her.
''Well, Samps Collins told me he'd
give me pair Of boots and suspenders
if I'd do it,
''Tell how you did it?"
'She was just walking along the floor,
and hit her on the head with skillet.
She 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. 1t was buried, and all talk
about it hushed up by the family, ex-
cepting "a the part of the little boy HIM
self, Who was quite proud of the deed,
as well r 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 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
never went to school, but attended once
or twice Sunday school.
When asked if he didn't know he
would be punished for his crime, he
said:
"What's that?'
He was then asked if he didn't know
he did wrong in killing his sister, and
ought to be hanged for it.
He replied: "No. Lust killed her.
OdLApb OOlliLS bOlU Iuo 10 10 IL.
"Did you ever hear about the Lord at
Sunday school, Lindvillel"
"No, l don't know nothing bout
him."
He is with all his blind illiteracy, a
very Misunderstanding bright-eyed
child, who under system of mental
and moral training, would doubtless in
the course of years develop into use-
full citizen, regretting and reprehending
the crime that makes a life convict of
him. An appeal was made in his behalf
at the Executive Office, but as Gov.
Buckner was absent from the city, and
Lieut-Gov. Bryan not yet installed and
acting in his stead, the matter was
dropped for the present, and the boy
regularly entered and domiciled with
in the walls. He was set at work Gaming
chairs, and seems as quiet and cheerful
as boys of his age usually are when
compelled against their wishes to per-
form labor of any kind.