The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-09-06
JEAN VALJEAN OF THE SOUTH.
Revealed as an Escaped Convict After
20 Years Of Mental Torture.

NEW ORLEANS, Sept. SC. F. Kelly
alias Felix DAILY, who has just been brought
back to the Mississippi Penitentiary from
Birmin CHAM, Ala, to complete his sem
tence, interrupted by an escape from the
penitentiary twenty years ago, tells a
remarkable story of remorse and inability
to keep a secret
DAILY was living in Birmingham under
the assumed name of Kelly. He had mar
ried there, had a son almost grown, had
done we'll in business and had prospered
generally. During the twenty years since
he had escaped from the Mississippi Pen
itentiary he had greatly aged, and had
changed so in appearance that even the old
wardens would not have known him.
There was never the slightest chance Of
his rearrest and imprisonment. indeed
the fact that man by the name Of DAILY
had escaped from the Mississippi Jail had
been forgotten by every one.
The only person who knew Of it was
Daily himself but the knowledge 80 preyed
upon his mind that he could not keep the
secret He wanted to confide in every OF 9
he met, and finally told his story to man
who Investigated it, found il true, and
Penitentiary authorities. DAILY was re-
arrested TO the great surprise of his fam
| ily and taken back to the pententiary
He made no denial but confess ed his iden-
tity at once. and expressed great relief
| that the secret was off his mind
1T has kept me in a condition Of ner-
vous excitement for the entire twenty
years." said DAILY. Every day I expecte d
| the officers to come and arrest me- Every
10 hat I Goo, 49,
| authorities that i was an escaped convict
| nd go back to the penitentiary and COM
plete my term
There can be no question that DAILY is
telling the truth in regard to his mental
| anguish and suffering. As a matter of
| worrying over the matter without any
| one imagining the secret that had mentally
| unba lanced him After a short rest in the
| asylum he recovered and went back to
| his home. his mind 81 weighted with his
past.
Filled with the wild desire that possessed
| him To share his secret with some one he
| opened the subject several times with
strangers. he says. He even went 10 the
Governor Of Georgia to tell his tale TO get
| his assistance In securing clemency bur
! he broke down nj the last minute Finally
| the secret became too weighty for him,
as for King Midass barber He told tn.
his twenty years 81 freedom DAILY was in
mortal terror. Even when he slept he
| dreamed Of prisons, He was Nv ice IN The
| Alabama State Asylum At TuskaIoosa for
| insanity, but when released Wa apparently
| ar sane ~ any ono else, although physical
wreck and with his nerves unstrIng
DAILY was convicted Of assault with intent
10 murder william r. Smith The crime
w6h committed Al Moss Point Miss in
| 1870. He was convicted on May 70, 1891
and sentenced I" ~" penitent iary for five
years He escaped on Jan. o, 1881, after
! serving little more than n year ard
| half There was no trouble AbOIt he
escape, bnt DAILY never got over II,
" h probable that he will be pardoned
A. be- has suffered during his wonty years
~ freedom more than N he had been con
| fined all ihH' time, and he IL such o pbysicsI
and nervous wrrnk that hs could MOI poe
r.bly hope 10 serve ON IN" remaining hr, .
| and half years ~ lmpriso nIneDi he
OSss he state indeed, II would take -
very short term NJ tbs penitentiary " Kill
bin