Thomas County cat. [volume] (Colby, Kan.) 1885-1891, 1888-02-16
A CUNNING CONVICT.
How He Forged His Way Out of
Auburn Prison.

The Tribune few days ago pub
lished the following dispatch from
indianapolis:
When District-Attorney Sellers opened his
mail last night he was astounded to find a COM
municat on referred to him by the President,
embodylng petition for the pardon Of William
Teal. q notorious criminal who has served three
terms In prison for counterfeiting. The petit
tion bore the names OF all the United States
Court officials, including the district-attorney
himself, besides those Of William H. English,
Joseph E. Mcdonald and many other OF the
most prominent citizens OF Indianapolis. On
investigation it was found that all the sigma
lures hal been forged, together with letters
making special pleas for the convict. the
President had given favorable consideration TO
the petition on account Of its strength of sigma
lures, but his reference for inquiry into the
matter will result in making more trouble for
Teafand the persons associated with him"
The incident above narrated recalls
a similar one that happened in this
State. 1t was score or more wears
ago that an application was received
at !he Executive chamber at Albany for
the pardon of a convict, one of whose
many aliases was Jack Ham," from
Auburn prison. Jack had spent a
large portion of his life in enforced
confinement and had well earned the
reputation of being one of the most
desperate of unhung villains. His ILL
fame was known TO the Governor. and
accordingly he opened the application
for clemency extremely disinclined TO
interfere. He very properly felt that
it would be crime against the public,
a blow at peace and good order to turn
loose so relentless foe to society.
However, he also felt that it was his
duty to see on what grounds the APP
plication was based. The result was
that on finishing the papers he rang
for the pardon clerk and directed that
a document should be prepared for his
official signature releasing Jack Flam.
The pardon clerk had also heard OF
Jack bad eminence, so being on ex-
cellent terms with his chief, he turned
to him and remarked. with a face the
picture of amazement:
lis it possible. Governor. that you
are going to pardon SO notorious a char
acter rs Flam?"
Eyes, answered the Governor, with
a smile. That's what I'm going to
do-unless you interpose your veto.
After you've made out the pardon
glance your eye over the application
and see if haven't done as you would
DO in similar circumstances when you re
Governor.
The pardon clerk promptly did as
he WAS commanded Having made
out the pardon. he eagerly read the
application; and when he got through
he went in to the Governor. and said
in an abashed way. as he laid down the
pardon for signature: ''You couldn't
have done any thing else; that's the
most irresistible application for par
don that has ever met my gaze" The
Governor smiled again. affixed his
signature. and the pardon was mailed
to Auburn. And yet nobody had asked
for the pardon of Jack Flam except
Jack himself
But as the pardon clerk slid. it Was an
Irresistible application 1t bore the
Signature of the warden. the doctor
and the cha":ts;n of the prison. They
united in testifyinG Kat Fiam's con-
duct during his Incarceration had been
In all respects satisfactory. quite with
out reproach; that ne was very sick
man, worn to . skeleton and sinking
k>.e. that ho ,r~s the victim Of An in.