Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1906-06-25
The risoner $ l estimony
IOriginal l

 counsel. II desire to rest this case sole y on my clients testimony
 The prisoner tie pa lior of death. toe weak to stand, sat in the witness box, passed his hand over his brow and be gun, as ii seemed, in the ruddlc-t was al the end of his story
 "I was gradually waking II must have been night, for 1t was dark a- EreI,nS I heard tlie stroke of a deeT toned bell and counted three. II must have been 5 o'clock in the morning. If in midsummer it would soon be light; if in midwuter the darkness would fontinue till nearly |. But could not remember whether it was summer or winter. l felt no bedtlothes over ne, so l concluded it must he sumner.
 One thing knew-my bed was very hard The muscles of my back, on which l was lying. ached, but l was principally taken up with where l was. I remembered who l was and that l had been very sick in a hospital. but l could not now be there. for the hospital ward was lighted, and the nurse In charge always, when not engaged with a patient, sat at table on which was shaded lamp. My bed had been soft.
 "Where was |:
 "1'he odor of the room was very bad, and could not feel that there was any ventilation. I put my hand down be side me and felt wood I explored the wood. and 1t appeared to be table.
 What did 1t mean?
 ~ wished to get up to f3nd out where I was. But I 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 1 must lie where 1 was and think 1t out With difficulty suc- ceeded in turning on my side,
 'I hadn't even pillow.
 Fl thought and thought and thought but could come to no conclusion.
 'rrhen I worked myself toward the edge of my wooden bed and reached out with my arm as far as I could and u that on which rested, and. as far as could feel, the same shape. I raised myself on my elbow and put ont the othe, hand This enabled me to reach a little farther. felt
 Great heavens!
 That's flesh! Cold, clamuy flesh!
 T shrank back and fay still. My heart now vas humping. The Instinct of self preservation came to give me wilt power to regain my self control When my heart had somewhat Qu'eted I raised myself again and reached again. This time I ran my hand along the side of human tN.ing.
 .It came to me suddenly. I was in . disseeting room.
 T felt myself faintinK. but a tor rible thought uerved me. Suppose I relapsed into unconsciousness. Morn ing would come and with it medical student who would begin to cut me mp. Perhaps his first thrust would be in vital pnrt Heavens, l must get up and make an effort to get out of the horrible place Terror gave me strength. and sat up Then. bracing my hands on the edge of my table. 1 lowered my self to the 6por.
 ''Too weak to walk, I got down and era wed- d-crawled in among tables till at last 1 felt 6 wall. Along this groped till I felt window casing. Pulling myself up, I reached a shade. Moving it aside 1 admitted little light from street lamp far below. My sight was keen. and saw what appeared 10 be q door. Long l looked at 1t with n view 10 fixing it's direction. But l dared not go strai ght for it. must follow the wall This l did and reached # after what seemed an age. wondering tue while if I would make myself heard in ease l found jt locked
 Tt WAS aJag, thank God
 "Cra wiling through ii, ] entered an anteroom. There was no light In 1t, but a light in building close by gave me all l needed l was In coat room Among other articles were pieces of clothing doubtless left there by stu dents to put on for dissecting work.
 
 Ia coat pocket I found q bottle of liquor drank it all and went out and downstals In an office room ill desk drawer found d box with stamps and a few small bills with some change. l knew l must have something to sustain me. and this would buy it. l took the money. IL was my first theft.
 T was going toward the street door wien 1 heard the words:
 Stop thief"
 It was all mp with me. l had escap- cd from dead house to be put in jail. The night watchman seized me. told him my story.
 He laughed
 The man was I melancholy sight. A part of his clothing WAS too large for him, part too small Most of il was far too large, for there was little ot him except skin and bone. He had told his story with an effort and shHddered q rpfa iusc his 2TCWSOme experience.