Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1906-06-12
TheP Pr;soner $ 1 Testimony
(Orieinai ]

counsel. T desire to rest this case sole ly on my clients testimony"
 The prisoner. the pa flor Of death. too weak to stand. sar in the witness box. pa ssed his hand over his brow and be. gan, as 1t seemed. in the middle it was at the end of his story.
 'I was gradually waking. It must have been night. for it was dark as Erebus. heard the stroke of a deep toned bell and counted three. It must have been 3 o'clock In the morning. If in midsummer if would soou be light, N in mdwinter the darkness would ; continue till nearly :. But could not remember whether it was summer or winter. felt no bcdciOthes over me. SO l concluded if must be summer.
 "Onc thing knew my bed was very hard. The muscles of my back. OH which was lying. ached, but ] was principally taken up with where l was. I remembered who I was and that I had been very sick in a hospital. but l could not now be there. for tlie hospital ward was lighted, and the nurse in charge always, when moi engaged with c patient. sat at q table on which was a shaded lamp. My bed had been soft.
 "Where was |:
 1.-The Odor of the room was very bad, and could not feel that there was any ventilation put my hand down be- -eL c.Jt fl.n wood. and 1t appeared to be d table.
 What did ii mean:
 1T wished to get up to lind out where was. But 1 was very weak. too weak to go rummaging around in a strange dark room, too weak to go about any where, too weak to stand. No, could not get up. [ must lie where ] vas and think 1t out. With difficulty l sue ceeded in turning on my side.
 "I hadn't even pillow.
 II thought and thought and thought but could come to no conclusion.
 "1'hen 1 worked myself toward the edge of my wooden bed and reached out with my arm as far as 1 could and felt-other wood It was smooth, like
 
 could feel the same shape. l raised myself on my elbow and put out tue other hand This euabled me to reach a little farther. I felt
 st1reat heavens!
 That's flesh I'old, claMny nesh!
 'l shrank back and lay still. My heart now was humping. The instinct of self preservation came to give me will power to regaiu my self control. When my heart had somewhat Quieted I raised myself again aud reached again This time ran my hand along the side of human being,
 "It came to me suddenly. was in . dissectfng room.
 "I felt myself fainting. but ter rible thought nerved me. Suppose 1 relapsed into unconseiousueas. Morn ing would come and with it medical student who would begin to cut me up. Perhaps his first thrust would be in vital part. Heavens! l must get up and make an effort to get out of the horrible place. Terror gave me strength, and 1 sat up. Then, bracing my hands on the edge of my table. lowered my self to the floor.
 '"Too weak to walk. got down and era wled-cra wlod iu among tables till at last I felt wall. Along this gro,,ed till I felt a window casing. Pulling myself up, reached shsde. Moving 1t aside, I admitted little light from q street lamp far below. My sight was keen. and l saw what appeared to be a door. Long looked at it with a view to fixing it's direction. But I dared not go straight for it. must follow the wall. This l did ana reached it after what seemed an age wondering the while if ] would make myself heard in ease found 1t locked
 'It was Aiar, 1llanl, God.
 .Crawliug through il entered Rn anteroom. There was no light in it, but a light in building close by gave me All I needed 1 was in q coat room. Among other articles were peces ot clothing doubtless left there ny stu dents to put on for dissectinE work. ! found coat, vest, trousers, hat. shoes. In coat pocket l found bottle or liauor. l drank it all and went out ana downstairs. In an office room iG desk drawer found box with stamps and a few small bills with some change. ] knew l must have something to sustain me. and this would buy It. l f"ok the money. It was my first theft.
 II was going toward the street door when heard the words:
 "'Stop thief.'
 "It was all up with me. had escap- eti from dead house to be put tn jail. The night watchman seized me. told him my story.
 He laughed
 The man was melancholy sight. \ ! part of his clothing was too large for i him. a part too small. Most of It was far too large for there was little or l him except skin aud bone. lie had foid his story with an effort and shudoefea at recalling his grewsome experience. ;,, ih.. hxS(l