A comrade obedient, whatever the cost,
A brother who’s ready and willing to die,
A comrade who will not his Savior deny.
A brother on duty, by day and by night,
A comrade who’s trusting in Jesus’ great might,
A brother so Christlike, O Savior, I’ll be
A comrade in purpose, sacred to thee.
DEGENERATES.
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.