AFTER MANY YEARS.

Auckland Star, Volume LVII, Issue 37, 13 February 1926, Page 23

AFTER MANY YEARS.

» MURDERER OF MOUNTAINS. "UNCLE ASA'S" MISTAKE. A father's love for his first-born, repressed during -a half century's hiding in the inaccessible hill lands of East Tennessee, brought "Uncle Asia" Patterson creeping down from the hills—into the arms of the law which he had successfully evaded for forty-five years. The story became known when "Uncle Asa," now 79, was assigned to the State iprison farm to serve out a life term for murder committed in 1881. His Family Never Knew. During his forty-five years of hiding, the. aged -man had remarried and had become the father often children. His new family —his first wife was dead—never knew he was a fugirtive from justice. "Uncle Asa" never had heen much of a one to cut up around Christmas time. His visits to the village were very infrequent, even when the holiday spirit was at its height and all the folks creaked out of the hills to buy new calico down ' the store.' " This Christmas he appeared different, however. He announced his intention of "going to town" and wheezed down the mountain in hi» son's one-lunger. ■ And (here fate stepped in. Revenue agents, always suspicious of hill folks, stopped the car to search for liquor. A small amount was found, it was reported, and "Uncle Asa" was battled into court. No One Remembered. The aged man, eyesight dimmed and hearing faulty, and having kept so close to his mountain lair, was not acquainted with all the activities of prohibition enforcers. To "Uncle Asa" it appeared they had recognised him and were taking him for the murder., "He made a dean breast of the crime and Ibis escape. Officials at the trial ■ forty-fire years ago had long since died and not one (remembered "Uncle Asa's" case. Musty. volumes were thumbed, however, and a •record of his sentence found. The name of the victim and the record of the trial had long since been lost in the musty flies. ••'Uncle Asa" was taken to the State prison farm without being allowed to- visit his son whom he had not-seen In forty-five years. The son is on his way to vim his father, missing so long as to be almost forgotten.