A CUNNING CONVICT.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 6, Issue 1702, 4 June 1884, Page 2

A CUNNING CONVICT.

On March 6th a man named " Lucky Joe Wilson," the chief of a band of horse thieves in North Carolina, esoaped from the county goal, at Morgantown by a smart ruse. According to the local paper ''Wilson was sen" ; teheed to the State Prison for ten years for his outlawry. He took an appeal and was awaiting a decision nf the Supreme Court in his case. • Tor stmo weoks ho pretended to ba ill. Last night he feigned death, was laid by the prison officials, and prepared for burial. The: coffin, was ordered, and all other, preparationsV made for.his burial. The body was ' placed in an outbuilding, where it was | viewed by many of the' prisoners and officers of the gaol. The eyes' wero wide open and seemingly glazed in death. Blood had spurted I'roiiUhe mouth and vairdown on the bed Covering. A minister was sent for to preach at the funeral of the notorious,robber. The body was.left alone until the time for burial. When everything became quiet about the prison Wilson suddenly resurrected, himself,,sprang-up and dashed out of the room, and made his escape before any one was aware of what had occurred. He dashed down the monntain and lied toward Tennessee.. The discoverers of the ruse played upon them by Wilson woro so.paralysed that 'they permitted the prisoner to get two 'hours' start of them before they followed him.,. It is hardly probable that he will be recaptured." r