Rensselaer Republican, Volume 22, Number 14, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 12 December 1889 — FORTY’ YEARS IMPRISONMENT. [ARTICLE]

FORTY’ YEARS IMPRISONMENT.

The Oldest Convict In the United i States an Inmate of the Indiana I ’ Prison South. Indianapolis Journal. At the gate where wagons pass in and out of the Prison South stands the oldest convict in the United States, and forty years of his life have been spent behind the walls of prisons. The name of this, aged criminal is John Hicks. He was born at Montgomery Court-house, Va., eighty-four years ago. and emigrated with his parents to Wayne county, Indiana* when quite young, locatings at Centerville, “where he learned the blacksmith's trade. His first crime was horse-stealing, and his second and third were attempted crim inal assault. Ho served out his time for horse-stealing, hut was pardoned in both the other eases. He was not out long, however, and 1 when he came to the Prison South for the first time it was to begin his sixth term in the penitentiary. II ia time expired last spring, and the old man requested the board of directors to allow him to remain at the prison. Ilis request was not granted, and when he left the institution ho told the officials he would return shortly. Three weeks later he came back in charge of the sheriff of Vigo county. His term expires on the 27th of next month, and Mr. Johnson, secretary of the State Board of Charities, has promised to find him employment if he will come to Indianapolis. ~ Hicks is about six feet in height and his snowy locks and the patriarchal beard, which sweeps his breast, make him resemble ideal portraits of Moses. His parents long ago passed to their eternal rest, and ifhehasany relatives living he does not know them. 11c was never married, but, it is said, was one time mixed up in a love affair as full of romance as the last forty yours of .his life has been of crime.