The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-06-23
NE is A CANNIBAL.
ESQ Aso, Convict In the Virginia
Pcnitentinry.

From the st. Louis Republic.
Richmond, Va, June 15-It came TO
light yesterday that among the prisoners
in the Virginia penitentiary is a genuine
cannibal lie Is the only one In the state
Tho prison authorities knew of the fact
a short time after the prisoner was re-
ceived, but said nothing about II until a
Catholic priest In this city, who had min
istered TO the prisoner, let the cat out Of
the bag. and the rumor was soon substan-
tiated without doubt. Assistant Superln-
tendent White of the penitentiary, when
seen yesterday said:
Yes, we have a real, live cannibaf here.
/ thought the newspapers would have
found it out before this, but it seems that
they haven't"
ESQ Aso is the name Of the cannlbal orr
ginally, but since his residence in America
he has been going by the name Of Antonio
Frederick, cognomen he picked up some
where, during his voyages as a common
sailor on the high seas He appears TO
be about 90 years Of age, though he insists
that he is I'm his fifty-eighth year He is
six feet two inches high, weighs ia
pounds and has magnificent physique. OF
gingerbread complexion, bright, intelli-
gent eyes, low forehead, straight nose.
and lips unusually thin for an African, he
reads and writes well, talks intelligenty,
with a foreign accent leaning toward the
Oriental brogue, and has a nervous, ierky
way Of noticing things generally. Shy in
manner and rather reluctant to tell about
his early life and family connections the
African furnishes an interesting study.
He is a remarkable athlete, muscular, ac-
tive and feet Of foot He has been known
to climb around on balconies and veran-
das at the prison where none Of the other
prisoners would dare venture. During his
thirty-two years residence In America
and Europe he has picked up deal of in
formation and grown accustomed to civ
ilization, yet cherishes many Of the le-
gends and customs Of his native land. He
claims to be proselyted to the Catholic
faith, and wears his beads and cross. He
prays three times a day and reads his
Bible regularly.
Despite all this, ESQ Aso still has a
keen appetite for human flesh. He de-
clares that a cannibaf never loses his
taste in this respect, and Insists that he
would not hesitate to partake heartily
Of such a menu II he could secure human
flesh for q meal.
LAS soon as my term here is out" said
he, Il am going back to the old country
where l can eat man meat without dan
ger. When once you've eaten it you
never lose taste for It. There isn't any
/ had some for dinner to-day There are
IN this prison some fine specimens for our
folks to eat IL we had them in Bashon.'
This he said in an earnest, serious way,
emphasizing his remarks now and then
with a significant gesture Flis entire
manner left no doubt of his sincerity, and
after once understanding with some diff
ficulty, that a frank statement Of his
life and customs in Africa would result
in no trouble to him, the canlibal became
a triie more communicative, and gave a
clear STRAIGHTFORWARD statement now
and then introducing words in his own
language, as though uncOnscously drop
ping into that habit.
MY fathers name is ESQ Aso, " said he,
land /, the eldest son. was named after
him Ny father was king Of five settle
ments on the Binn river in Eastern AZ
RIGA, near the big desert These settle
ments in BashOn, where we lived EN-
budikin, Kauno, GoshKa and Kawarri.
He was ruler OF about 1,700 people in all
He had five wives. My mother, whose
name was Nindebar, was killed by the
Efromo. He was the man who made the
sacrifices at the altar and gave the peo-
pie religious instruction. He found out