Oxford eagle. (Oxford, Lafayette Co., Miss.) 1876-current, 1903-01-22
BROOKS STORY,
Whose Marvellous Escapes Have
Made Him Notorious,
Voluntarily Gives Himself Up, Stating
That He Wanted to Serve Ont
His Term.


His Term.
Kosciusko, Miss, Jan. 17.-Brooks
Story, the noted prisoner whose nu'
merous daring escapes from the peni.
tentiary and from officers of the law
have made him notorious, voluntarily
walked into the sheriff's Office at Kos
ciusko today and informed Sherin
Love that he desired TO return to the
penitentiary and finish his time. Sto-
ry was convicted of robbing the ex-
press Office at Durant, and given a ten
year sentence in 1892.
After being incarcerated for some
time he and several others made
bold dash for liberty from the thin
prison walls at Jackson. They were
pressed so close that Story took ref
uge under a residence in that part of
the city, and it will be remembered
that the peculiar antics of cow re-
vealed his hiding place. He was re-
captured, but not before he was Sc
riously shot.
The next time he escaped he was
arrested in Georgia, and on being con-
veyed back to the Mississippi peniten-
tiary by Travelling Sergeant Montgom-
cry, made daring escape by jumping
from a moving train. By a strange
irony of fate Story's second capture
was effected by the same Montgomery,
who had given up the office Of travel
ing sergeant for the penitentiary and
was living at Madison Station. TWO
strangers came into the village one
day. and their actions attracted the
attention of Mr.. Montgomery, who be-
gan to shadow them. Stationing him
self at the depot he waited until they
came around. When Story walked
into the door Montgomery drew his
gun upon him, and told him to hold up
his hands After effecting his arrest
he saw it was Story, and carried him
to Jackson.
Story twice escaped the officers OF
Attala county. One time he was struck
across the head by the deputy sheriff
with shotgun, and the officer, be-
lieving that he had killed him, left
him lying there, and went off to get
wagon to haul his body home. When
be returned with the conveyance Sto-
ry was gone.
His Last Escape.
Story's last escape was from the
prison hospital at Jackson, November
1S, 1900. Since that time he has been
in Indian Territory in the Cherokee
and Choctaw Nations. He first began
work at the carpenters trade, and ac-
cumulating little money, embarked
into the restaurant business at Ard
more. I. t., where he prospered. He
saws he went under the name of
Charles May, and while he occasional
ly met people who knew him, he was
never troubled, and had no aprpehen-
sion of arrest.
He also did business in Muskogee,
and lived an upright and law-abiding
life. and made friends. Story i'm
presses one as being thoroughly re-
pentant and sincere, and in burst of
confidence said: "If l had the wealth
of the Rothschilds, l would give it
all to recall that nights work. mean
ing the robbery.
He further said: 81 came back here
voluntarily to give myself UP and
serve my time. hope later to wipe
off to some extent the stigma upon the
name of my wife and children, whom
love, by upright conduct
No little interest and sympathy was
manifested for him here today, and
strong petition will be forwarded to
the governor asking an unconditional
pardon Story comes of good family.
His father was an upright and highly
respected citizen of some means in
ante-bellum days and Story's wife also
comes of good people.
Mrs Story and her four children
are living at the cotton factory here,
where she and one daughter are EN-
ployed, making modest living by
their labor. Story has served seven
years of his original sentence, and a
great many of our best citizens believe
that he has been sufficiently punished,
and in view of his voluntary surren-
der, will sign petition for his par
don. Sheriff Love will convey him to
Jackson tonight.