The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-02-20
.S|SK NEARING END
CnECKEREO CAREER
TWICE CONVICTED OFF MAN
SLAUGHTER HE FACES LIFE
TERM IN PRISON.
ESCAPED FROM JAIL
SAWED HIS WAY OUT CHAR
LoTTEsvILLE COoLER-MAKEs
TOUCHING PLEA IN RICH
MoND COURT.
ESCAPED FROM JAIL

With the prospect of spending the
rest of his natural life in States pris-
on staring him In the face, Charles d.
Sisk. Of Madison County. told touch
ing story in the Circuit Court of Rich
mond yesterday in a last plea to
escape having a seventeen-year SEN
tence prolonged by FIVE years because
of conviction a second time for man
slaughter.
Sisk told a life of independence and
family enjoyment through more than
thirty-f1ve years, while he sought to
live down the memory of the fact that
he had, as a mere youth, spent eigh-
teen months in the penitentiary. He
referred to his wife and children and
of the happy life they had led to-
gether from shortly after he left pris-
on to the time when, as he alleges.
he killed a moonshiner in self
defense.
Interesting Story.
Sisks life history Is a most inter
esting one. At the age of seventeen
he was convicted of manslaughter
and sentenced to eighteen months in
the peniten.lary. On his release he
settled in Madison County, where he
married and raised family, living in
peace with his neighbors for a quar-
ter of a century.
Then came the fatal day when he
engaged in quarrel with three men.
According to the story told by Sisk in
the Circuit Court room yesterday, the
men were moonshiners who thought
he had assisted revenue officers in
their hunt for them. They beat him
badly. he declared and for while
he fought them with natures weap-
ons. Finally, however, he said. as
one of them was about TO hurl a huge
rocl; at his head, he drew his re-
yolver and fired, killing his assailant
Sisk was tried In the Madison Coun-
ty Court and sentenced to seventeen
years in the penitentiary. Esca ping
from jail he was lodged in the Abe
marie County Jail for safe keeping.
Last November he and another pris-
oner effected their escape. through
the efforts of IA sister of his partner.
1t is said
Went to Ohio.
They went to Ohio, where they
were captured and returned to Vir-
ginia on requisi;ion. Sisk is being
tried In the Circuit Court of Rich
mond on a second offense charge,
when, when established means FIVE
additional wears to his sentence.
AS the man Is now forty-four years
of age. five years added to his seven
teen-year sentence means that when
his term expired he would be sixty
six years OF age. Fearing that a
term Of that length would mean his
death In States prison. Sisk is plead
ing 10 he let off with the sentence i'm
posed by the courts of his county His
case has been continued by Judge X.
Carter Scott.
In all, sixteen gonyicfs were tried
yesterday by Judge Scott on the sec
ond offense charge. Two cases were
continued. one convict was given a
life sentence and thirteen others had
five years added
Thomas l.. Grady, alias James I'm
derwood, drew the life sentence. tie
was convicted of having committed a
third offense. The cases Of S.sk and
Walter Turpin. alias John Johnson.
were continued.
Notorious Criminal.
Turpin is a notorious criminal in
Virginia's criminal history, and is
also well known in other States. and
to the Federal authorities. Turpin
was convicted in 1902 OF counterfeit
ing while serving time for robbery.
He had made moulds from sole
leather used in the manufacture Of
shoes
He was subsequently, pardoned. but
not long afterward was caught by
the United States authorities making
counterfeit money in East Main
street. he was convicted for this
and sentenced to serve two years in
the Federal penitentiary at Atlanta
Leaving there ,le was shortly after
ward arrested for house breaking.
and served sentence in the Georgia
State peniteEtary. He returned to
Virginia and was again sent To the
penitentiary from Lynchburg He Is
now serving a one-year term Tor
HOUSEKEEPING in Charlottesville.