Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-07-20
AYourmrrL mrannsna
Sentenced for Life for Riiiiag Ills
Tnree-Yeas-Oid ssstcr.

A Frankfort lKy.) telegram says: The
most Youthful white criminal ever confined
within the penlteniiary was brought here
Yesterday. He vas 80 childish IN appearance
that the officials 81 the peniteullarY. when
Informed by the sheriff OF Breathitt county
that be bad come TO leave him a prisoner.
remarked In almost one breath; "My God,
you're testing, aren't your That's baby,
and this is no baby farm" The boys nsme -
Liunyiile Combs. lie was eleven years old
last March. weighs 20 rounds, and Is little
upward OF four feet IN helgsi. lie murder
cd little sister thiee years Old and was sem
fenced 10 imprisonment for life. To-day the
little fellow was called from his work 10 tell
all he knew OF himself, aud be entered the
C, l-h0use with his dark brown eyes open
WIDE in sstonishmcnt that any one here
could have sny BUSINESS with him. lie was
asked bis name ADD replied: "Lennsille
Combs, 81 Breathitt county," Siuing ~ a
chair. twiring his straw hat IN bis hands,
pushing back and isine forward. and with
his iett barely touching the ground, be look
cd so innocent It was hard 10 believe he had
but three months ago murdered liule i ter.
Thc,fsmly live about twenty mites from
Jackstn on a branch appropriately named
Troublesome. From what the bov states tue
mothe.. is not good woman. lie said biz
mothers name was DceIuks Combs and that
hi, fathers name was Barlow stacy. and that
hts mother lived with saDp- Collins. In his
mothers home there were four children be.
SIDES hlmseif, the youngest being Nsunie
Belle COmbs, not quite three year, ri ogc.
said Liunville. when asked WHY he killed
her: "Well, Samps Collins told ME he'd
give me pair u boots and suspcndcrs II Ia
DO IT,"
.1Tell how vou did IT," "she was lpst
walking along the floor. aud hlt her ~ the
head with A skillet. She ZEN over into the
ire, but she was dead already. | pulled her
ont OF the tire and threw her into the creek"
lie said that within half al hour thereafter
Jennie Campbell told him that she saw the
body floating on the water. aud DO told her
he had killed Mamie Bel hlDseG. lie then
waded into the creek and drew Ne body
ashore. II was buried. and all tilk about u
hushed up by the family excepting on the
part OF the little boy himself. who was quite
proud Of hi. deed, a. well az Ignorant of lis
consequences.
In ABOUT a month a'terward be was srr'st-
ed aud taken to Jackson. where he frankly
related the story to The court and Jury. Col
Inns was arrested aud put on trial. out sub
sequently released. because there wa no
proof Of his instigltion ~ lbe crime, except
ing the statement ot a child. an infant Va law,
whose oath and testimony could not be ac-
cspted by the court. Linnylie. however,
was sentenced to the penlientiary for life.
The boy convict says b. never went 10
school. but attended once or twice sunday
school. When asked II be didn't know hc
would DO punished for his crime be sud:
Z" What's tbat!" lie was then asked II be
didn't know he did wrong IN killing hi. SIS
ter and ought 10 be hanged los II. He Re-
piled: "NO. just Killed her; Samps Coii!ns
told me 10 do IT.
ibid you ever hear about the Lord OF
Sunday school. LinnyileY" No, DON'T
know nothing bout Him"
He Il, with all his blind illitcracy. very
iutelligent.looh inc, bTIgbteyed child. who
under a system Of mental ana moral train.
ing would doubtless in the course ~ years
develop into useful citizen. regretting the
crime thsl makes 4 life convict OF bin. An
appeal was made In his behalf nj the Exect-
tive Office, but rs Governor BnckRer was
absent from the city aud Lieulensnl.Goyer-
nor Bryan not yet iGsisled and acting In bis
stead, the matter was dropped for The pres-
ent and the boy regularly entered pnd domi-
ciled within the walls. lie was vet at work
Gaming chairs. and seems a. quiet and cheer
full "a boys Of hIs age usually are when CON.
PEELED to perform labor OF any kind.