_Serial No. 4035_—Was received from Pocahontas County in 1898, to serve
two years for horse stealing. He claimed upon his entrance to the
prison to be a “preacher.” It is alleged by persons who know his life
and character that he is an old and experienced horsethief, who had
served many terms of imprisonment in the different penitentiaries of
the country, and was looked upon from a criminological point of view
as a moral degenerate of the first degree. While playing the role of
a “mountain evangelist” in the county from whence he was committed to
the penitentiary, he there applied his first and only calling, as a
horsethief of the first degree. Upon his introduction to the prison
he professed to be very religious, and stoutly maintained that he was
an innocent man much maligned and persecuted. He was made janitor of
the chapel, doubtless owing more to the fact that he was a cripple,
having only the use of his left hand, and a glib talker and not of use
elsewhere.
He soon ingratiated himself into the good graces of the visiting
ministers, who looked upon him more in pity than aught else, and they
extended to him charity which covers a multitude of sins. He did
active and good work, however. Upon his release from prison he made
loud professions of reformation and made pretense of going to serve
God and by so doing become a good citizen. It was, however, soon after
his release observed by persons interested in his welfare that he was
secretly treading the path of wickedness. Soon he was a fugitive from
justice with big rewards offered for his apprehension and conviction
for the larceny of many horses from the farmers of the state and
of Pennsylvania. Sheriffs of many counties were on the lookout to
apprehend him. Recently the sheriffs ran their quarry down and landed
him in the Mineral County jail and doubtless he will soon be returned
to his old familiar quarters, there to once more ruminate the error of
wrong-doing. It might well be said of him with Pope, “Why formed so
weak, so little, and so blind.” He has received another sentence of ten
years in state prison.