The Andrew County Republican. [volume] (Savannah, Mo.) 1871-1876, 1876-04-07
AN AFFECTING SCENE,
Meeting of Mother and Son in tho
Kansas Penitentiary-A Boy who
Kept His Shame From His Moth
er.
From the Leavenworth Times.

From the Leayenworth Times.
One OF the most affecting scenes that
we have ever witnessed was the meet
ing of q mother and her only son at the
Kansas State penitentiary, yesterday af-
ternoon.
Alonzo Drake, the prisoner referred
to, is the only son of wealthy parents.
In 1871 he left the home of his aged par
cnts, near Fort Scott, since which time
he has not been heard from
until shorS time ago. Hap
pening to be in the company
OF several parties who had been guilty
OF criminal offense, and. thinking he
would be prosecuted, fed from Bour-
bon county, in company with the real
perpetrators OF the crime. Near Reno,
in Hutchinson county, finding that they
were pursued, they took horses and rode
them for thirty or forty miles, when
they dismounted and turned the animals
loose, supposing the animals would re-
turn home. But the parties were arres-
ted and charged with horse stealing in
Reno county.
brakes companion had wealthy rela-
tives, who succeeded in having him
sentenced for only one year. while
young Drake, less guilty than his com-
panion, was sentenced for five years.
Too proud to write to his mother the
| circumstances connected with the affair,
| young Drake has remained in prison for
the past two years. Finally, fearing
that his kind and affectionate old moth
or might die before the expiration of his
sentence, he requested Warden Hopkins
to write to his mother and tell her no
was confined in tho State. Penitentiary.
| This request Major Hopkins kindly and
willingly complied with, and told the
aged mother that her son was u good
boy
Possessed of true maternal Affection
than which nothing can be deeper,
brakes mother had no hesitancy in sac
riticing everything in her possession to
cure his pardon.
After young brakes departure from
home, his mother emigrated from Bour-
bon county, Kansas, to Denison, Texas,
thinking that il her son was not dead he
might be found in that country. But
nearly five years have elapsed since that
time, and the grief-stricken mothers
feeling can be more easily imagined
than realized when she received the let
ter above referred TO from Warden Hop
kins.
Mrs. Drake crossed the prairie, the
| whole distance from Bourbon county to
Hutchinson, Reno county, in an open
wagon, in the hope that she might OBJ
tain her sons pardon. At Hutchinson
she employed the services of Judge Lii
ly to prepare the petition, and then pro.
ceeded to this city to see tho Governor.
| who is now here on visit. Gov. Os-
borne promised 10 pardon the boy if
good reasons could be presented to JUS
tify such action on his part. The papers
will be forwarded to Topeka for his con-
sideration.
Young brakes mother arrived at the
Ienitentiary yesterday. She was kind
ly and courteously welcomed by War
den hopkins, and by his instruction the
wayward son Was brought into the visi-
tors room to embrace his affectionate-
old mother, whose whole life seemed
b.ighted by his recklessness.
The scene which followed here can
not be portrayed, but suffice it to say
that it was amost affecting one.
Mrs. Drake will remain ut the Peli-
tentiary until the necessary steps can be-
taken looking to the obtaining of a par
don for her son, which she has every
reason to hope can be obtained shortly.
'LETTERs of administration were
granted to James L. Blair on the estate