Milford chronicle., 1892-07-22

MAN WHO HAS SPENT FIFTY
YEARS IN PEMTENTARlEs.

An indiana Criminal Who Prefers BI
Cen 10 Liberty strange Life Histor,
81 an Oetogenarlan who Has No Am
billion to be free or to Have Friends.
On q bench in front of the Clarl
county 1nd. alinshouse on warm, sunny
days sits an aged man whose silyery
beard Is tangled and whose trembling
hands and ALTERING steps tell the story
only too plainly that the journey Of life
is nearly at 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 penitentiary.
He was not a celebrated crook whose
cleyerness baffied the police and made
his name terror. He was only hum
Bile professional prisoner with neither
kith nor kin to worry over his singular
choice. No wife ever shared his lonely
hours and no prattling children ever
climbed upon his knees; no tailor ever
worried him with bills for clothing,
and he never took the trouble to form a
political opinion, because he never 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 &C
customed place in the yard. He did
not seem surprised when the visitor
called him by name and made known
his mission. His eyes frightened as his |
thoughts went back to his beloved cell .,
l,,,t ~ only for moment Then65a
"a al ~. s,,c nietly without ~ an
n T.s,s. o,'' re9ret for fsS wasted Years Of
his life:
Il suppose you want to hear the story
Of my life Everybody does, although
lido not see 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. Well he
continued, musingly, fumbling with the
ragged edge of his faded coat, Il was
born i'll Montgomery county, Va, eigh-
ty-six years ago. My parents were poor
and disd when was but child. Ihad
no brothers or sisters, and went to live
with a neighbor, who taught me the
blacksmith trade when he found IwOuld
not 20 to school, My masters name
was Neal, and he was fairly good to
me, but when grew up I decided to
leave him and come to Indiana. For
awhile / drove stage between Hamil-
ton and Centerville, but gave it up and
secured place as stage driver for Beard
& Scott, between Salem and Livonia.
Zone day while waiting for my din
ner at the house of farmer named
Brown / saw pOcketbook in bureau
drawer that had been left open. 1t con
tanned $3.50, which l at once took posses
sion of. got three years for this, which |
/ served and went to Washington, Da-
viess county, where / stole $500 from a
man whose name / do not remember. |
! think it was Thomas, but it was such |
q long while ago that am not sure
They gave me seven years for the Offense,
and after serving six years I 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- |
it and the jury gave me ten
years. Five years had been served be-
lore it was discovered that / was not
yuilty, and Governor Willard pardoned
ne. At indianapolis I committed a
burglary and was given three years.
AnOther burglary at BrOokville brought
ne four years and still another one at
got me four years at the
Michigan City penitentiary.
ABOUT this time 1 thought would
~ some other prison, and / went to
louisville, Ills. Another alleged Grim
nal assault was the cause Of my serving
en- years at Joliet. Ny term expired
nd / next fell at Hamilton, O., where
served two years for burglary. After
ward served in Pennsylvania and Ohio
gain and then went back to jefferson
lille. BY this time / was old and
onged for my cell in the Jacksonville
prison. It was more comfortable than
my 1 had ever occupied, and in fact the
prison there is the most humane one in
The country. Well, walked all the
way from Columbus to Jacksonville,
and calling upon the late Captain Craig,
who was then deputy warden, asked
him to give me home in the prison,
saying / was too old to work and wanted
to spend my few remaining days there.
He said he could not do so, and re-
solved to make him do it.
"GOing up to Paoli, in Orange coun-
", / robbed a house and took good care
hat they should catch me at It. The
Ease came to trial, and after had told
.he judge my story he kindly sentenced
me to five years. He would have made
It more, but he said he thought could
not live longer than that. thanked
him and went to prison. But was still
live when The sentence expired, and
yning to the northern part of the state !
,obbed q man and got year at Michi-
ran City, Then / came back to Jeffer-
Ionville, and the township trustees sent
ne here before / had q chance to steal
luything.
"When began my prison career was
tx feet tall and weighed 200 pounds.
vas probably the strongest man in the
tate. NY first sentence in Jefferson
lille was served in little log prison at
he corner Of Ohio avenue and Market
treet. was superintendent of the
ron work on the new prison, which was
,uilt in 1s47, and, if I do say it myself,
he job was well done.
''rhey made me keeper Of the big gate
N the south side just west Of the Office.
)nce, when the gate was open to let
wagon out, fifty desperate convicts made
break for liberty. Snatching an iron
lar from the tool chest planted myself
q the passageway and kept them all at
'ay until the guards arrived and took
hem in charge.
fNo, don't care for money Give ,
no a chew Of tobacco. Thanks. When !
lou are cut this way again come in and /
ZEE me. Goodby. "-Louisville Post.
london Women Of Rank Out Driving.
Lady Londonderry drives through in
haantiE,llz Lllrnad ont ca....nn. :