The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1890-11-22
A coNvIcT.s ESCAPE.
subterfugo by Which He Contrivod to Got
Away from . Prison Colony.

subterfugo by Which He ContrIvod to Got
Away from n Prison Colony.
Mr.. +. Ordinaire recently returned
from long sojourn In New Caledonia,
the big island in the Pacific to which
several thousand French criminals have
been transported for their country1a
good. 1t is mistake, however, to suE-
pose that many of these convicts spene
their lives drudging away behind prison
walls II they behave themselves and
do not try to escape they are in time por-
mitted to enjoy good deal of liberty, live
In cottages of their own outside the pris-
ons, marry female convicts. and acquire
moro or less property. While in New
Caledonia Mr.. Ordinaire met beautiful
young French woman and her husband,
They liyod in good style, entertained
him handsomely, and, as they wero not
convicts, their guest was curious to
know how it happened that they woro
living in such an out of tho way part of
the world. They satisfied his curiosity,
and later no heard tho story they told
him from tho French authorities on tho
island.
About twenty years ago wealthy
Frenchman named Lamy was condemned
to life Imprisonment in New Caledonia.
1t had been discovered that he had sue
cessively poisoned two legitimate wives,
and tho public sentiment was that he
was very lucky to save his head. His
sentence was that he should DO kept at
hard labor. 1t happened, however, that
In his now homo, being far away from
Tho French court that tried him, he was
not confinod very long in tho prison
gang, and gradually gained many privil-
oges Mr.. Ordinaire hints that Lamys
money was influential in making con-
vlct life oasy and comfortable for him.
At tho end Of ten years the wife
poisoner was as free as any ono could DO
who was not permitted to go anywhere
he pleased. He wandered at will among
tho settlements of New Caledonia,
bought property in Noumea, the chief
town OF the island, and started Il ranch
on which before long he had two thou
sand head of cattlo. He had other bust
ness irons in the fire, and enjoyed all
tho privileges of free colonist, except
that he could not quit tho island, whero
he had been condemned to perpetual
exile.
But, of course, the thing no most de-
sired was tho complete freedom that
was denied him. In spite of his fortune
and tho comparative comfort be enjoyed,
Lamy mado up his mind to go back to
Europe il ho could get there
Ono day he went to Noumea, wearing
n very lugubrious face, and told the
Governor of the Penitentiary Admins
tration that the climate was simply kill
ling him; if no did not have a change of
air he would die. Ho begged for por-
mission to spend six mon tbs in Sydney
on account OF his shattered health.
lis limited that sympathy did not
move tho penitentiary authorities half
so much as tho gold which is capable Of
working miracles. A privilege that had
never boon extended to prisoner on
the island before was accorded to Lamy.
He obtained permission to seek u change
of air. and openly embarked for Austria
liza on French steamer, buying the
best Accommodations the vessel provided.
Lany was now really fugitive, for
he had not the slightest intent ton OF re-
turning again to New Caledonia. 1t did
not take him long to discover that tho
sydney air was not sufficiently curative,
and he accordingly took passage upon
ono OF the San Francisco steamers,
crossed North America, and embarked
from New York for Europe.
few mon tbs after I.amy should have
roappeared in New Caledonia his son and
daughter-in-law, tho young people who
SO handsomely entertained Mr.. Ordi-
naire, appeared on the scene. They were
equipped with full powers to dispose
OF his property on the island, and thoy
settled in one Of their fathers houses
and proceeded leisurely to realize upon
the lands, houses, forests and herds of
their parent. At last accounts no was
still reposing from his adventures in a
country bordering upon Franco.-N. Y.