Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1892-07-23
LIKES PRISON LIFE.
4 MAN WHO HAS SPENT FIFTY
YEARS IN PENlTENTlARlES.

bifion to be Free or to Have Friends.
On a bench in front of the Clark
county Qnd.) almshouse on warm, sunny
days sits an aged man whose silvery
beard is tangled and whose trembling
hands and faltering steps tell the story
only too plainly that the journey of life
is nearly Mt an end. This is John Hicks,
poor, broken down old sinner, WHOSE
only claim to distinction is that he has
served fifty years in the pcnitentiary.
He was not celebrated crook whose
cleverness baffled the police and made
his name a terror. He was only hum
BILE professional prisoner with neither
kith nor kin to worry over his singular
choke, No wife ever shared his lonely
hours and no prattling children ever
climbed Rp0u his knees; no tailor ever
worried him with bills for clothing,
and he never took the trouble to form
political opinion, because he pcver had
an opportunity to vote.
Not long since a reporter visited the
Indiana almshouse, and when he in
quired for "Old Man Hicks" he was told
that the venerable pauper was in his ac-
customed place in the yard. Ee did
not seem surprised when the visitor
called him by name apd made known
his mission. His eyes frightened as his
thoughts went back to his beloved cell,
but 1t was only for moment. Then he
said calmly and quietly without any ap-
parent regret for the wasted years of
his life:
II SUPPOSE you want to hear the story
of my life. Everybody does, although
do not SEQ why they should take such
an interest in the affairs of an old man
they never knew and will never think of
again after they leave him. WE'LL" he
continued. musingly, fumbling with tho
ragged edge of his faded coat, II was
born in Montgomery county, Va, eigh-
ty-six years ago. Ny parents We're poor
and died when was but child. Ihad
no brothers or sisters, and went to live
with neighbor, who taught me the
| blacksmith trade when he found Iwould
not go to school. My masters name
was Neal, and he was fairly good to
me, but when l grew up l decided to
leave him and come to Indiana. For
awhile drove stage between Hamil-
ton and Centerville, but gave it up and
secured q place rs stage driver for Beard
& Scott, between Salem and Livonia.
"One day while waiting for my din
ner at the house of Il farmer named
Brown l saw pocketbook in bureau
drawer that had been left open. 1t con-
tanned $l60, which at once took posses
sion of. got three years for this, which
served and went to Washington, Da-
viess county, where I stole $500 from a
man whose name do not remember.
think it was Thomas, but it was such
long while ago that l am not sure.
They gave me seven years for the otfense.
and after serving six years l was par
doned by Governor Joe Wright.
"When got out went to Bedford
and worked at my trade until they
arrested me for assaulting a woman.
was innocent, but never took the trou.
BILE to deny it and the jury gave me ten
years. Five years had beon served be.
fore it was discovered that l was not
guilty, and Governor Willard pardoned
me. At indianapolis l committed 9
burglary and was given three years
Another burglary at Brookville brought
ME four years and still another one al
Charlottesville got me four years at the
Michigan City penitentiary.
About this time thought would
try some other prison, and went t.
Louisville, Ills. Another alleged Grim
inal assault was the cause of my servin.
ten years at Joliet. My term expired
and l next fell at Hamilton, o., wher,
served two years for burglary. After
ward served i'll Pennsylvania and Obi,
again and then went l&ck to Jefferson
vile. By this time / was old and
longed for my cell in the Jeffersonvill,
prison. 1t was more comfortable thar
any had ever occupied, and in fact tn
the country. Well, l walked all tn
way from Columbus to Jeffersonville
and calling upon the late Captain Craig
who was then deputy warden, aske'
him to give me home i'll the prison
saying was too old to work and wante'
to spend my few remaining days there
He said he could not do 30, and re
solved to make him do it.
"Going up to Paoli, in Orange coun
ty, robbed house and took good car
that they should catch me at it. TIL
case came to trial, and after had tol,
the judge my story he kindly sentence,
me to five years. He would have mad
J it more, but he said he thought coul,
not live longer than that. thanke,
him and went to prison. But l was still
alive when the sentence expired, an,
going to the northern part of the state
robbed n man and got year at Mich
gan City. Then came back to JetfeI
sonville, and the township trustees sen
me here before l had chance to stea
anything.
when began my prison career wa
six feet tail and weighed 200 pounds.
was probably the strongest man in tn
state. My first sentence i'll Jefferson
vile was served in little log prison a
the corner of Ohio avenue and Marke
street. l was superintendent of tn