Thomas County cat. [volume] (Colby, Kan.) 1885-1891, 1888-02-16

last hours soothed by her abiding NJ
lection. outside the prison walls The
warden dwelt upon Flsm's fidelity and
efficiency in the discharge of his prison
datics. The doctor demonstrated that
he could not possibly recover his
health. The chaplain expressed his
conviction that Flam was thoroughly
ashamed of his past and would die in
the faith. Nor were these the only
applicants for FANS pardon. The
district attorney who had convicted
him was another: He wrote that he
was heartily in favor of his release.
holding that justice did not require
that dying man should be pursued
with the rigors of the law. The fore
man of the jury that found Flam guilty
also made an eloquent appeal in behalf
of the truly good dying felon. quoting
to the Governor respectfully. but still
with the words underscored: He shall
have justice without mercy that
showed no mercy"
As soon as the mail train could carry
it the pardon reached Auburn. The
Warden was paralvzed. Jack Flam
pardoned! Great Scott! What was the
Governor thinking of? However. there
the pardon was. duly signed and sealed.
and Flam stepped out of prison free
man. Wasted to skeleton? Hardly.
He weigh d two hundred pounds if he
weighed FIVE. The victim of an incur
able disease? Incurable bosh-he was
as sound and as tough as hickory
sapling. A reformed man? Not to
any extent that the chaplain could APP
preciate.
A few weeks after Flam regained his
liberty it CHANGED that the district-at-
torney referred to came to Albany on
business. His business transacted, he
found he had an hour at his disposal
before it would be time for him to take
the train for home. Accordingly he
made up his mind to pay his respects to
the Governor. They were warm friends
and had pleas mt chat As the dis
trict-attorney rose to go he remarked:
Governor. l am surprised that SO
upright Chief Magistrate should have
par,loned so consummate rascal as
JACK Flam.''
"Well. for cool impudence that beats
any thing have ever heard" laugh
ing!y replied the Governor. AFTER
frs. beseeching me to pardon Flam.
YOU turn around and upbraid me for
granting your request!'
This led to an explanation. The
district-attorney assured the Governor
he had signed no application for the
pardon of Flam. The dumfounded
Governor rang for the pardon clerk.
and when he appeared asked in an ex-
cited tone that the application for
Jack Flam's pardon should be brought
to hun. Taking the papers. the Gov
ernor hurriedly turned to one of the
letters. and placing finger on the
signature attached to it, he handed it
to the district attorney with the re-
mark: Isn't that your autograph"
CHANGING at the writing, the district
attorney replied: mo. that is not my
autograph. but l am bound to say it's
an excellent imitation of il"
Tableau!
A madden man than that Governor
never existed. Five minutes later the
pardon clerk hurried to the telegraph
office with dispatch, asking the au-
thorities of Auburn prison if they or
any of them had ever signed an appli-
cation for the pardon of Jack Flam.
The pardon clerk informed the opera
tor that the Governor would take it as
a personal favor if he would crush" it
and request the Auburn operator to
rush the answer. The two dispatch
es were .'rushed;" consequently. in
course of half an hour the Governor
WIS informed by telegraph that no
body connected with the Auburn pris-
on had ever asked. or ever contem-
plated asking. for the pardon of Jack
Fam. That was clincher The
adroit convict had broken out of Au-
burn. not with a crowbar, but with a
pen. He had released himself from
PRISON on. forged papers. The Gov
ernor looked at the pardon clerk. the
pardon clerk looked at the Governor.
Then detective was summoned.
What had become # the brilliant
and audacious Mr.. lam? BY dint of