The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1888-02-24
a CUNNING CONVICT.
Forging hls Way Into Prison and
Forging HIs Way Out.

1t was score or moro years ago
that an application was received at
the Executive Chambers at Albany
for the pardon of convict. one OF
whose many aliases was Jack
Flam," from Auburn prison. Jack
had spent large portion OF his lite 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 Govern
or, and accordingly he opened the
application for clcmency extremely
disinclined to interfere. He very prop
erly felt that it would be u crime
against the public, blow at peace
and good order to turn loose such q
relentless foe OF society. However, he
also felt that it WAS his duty to see
on what grounds the application was
based. "rhe- results was that ON finish.
ing the papers he rang for the pardon
clerk and directed that q document
should be prepared for his official
signature releasing Jack Flam! The
pardon clerk had also heard OF Jacks
bad eminence, so being on excellent
terms with his chief, he turned to him
and remarked, with face the picture
of amazement:
ais it possible, Governor, that you
are going to pardon SO notorious q
character as Flam!'
'ies," answered the Governor
with n smile "That's what Pm 20.
ing to do-unless you interpose your
veto. After you've made out the
pardon, glance your eye over tho ap.
plication aud see if haven't done as
you will do in similar circumstances
when you're Governor"
The pardon clerk promptly did as
he was commanded. Having made
out the i,... Ia, he eagerly read the
application; and when he got through
he went in to the Governor, and said
i'll an abashcd way, ashelaid down the
pardon for signature: "You couldn't
have done anything else; that's the
most irresistible application for par
don that has ever met my g;tze."
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 said, it was
an irresistible application. 1t bore
the signature OF the Warden, the doc
tor and the chaplain of the prison.
They united in teStifying that Flam's
conduct during his Incarceration had
been in all respects satisfactory,
quite without reproach; that he
was Il very sick man, worn to n skele.
ton and sinking fast; that he was
the victim OF an incurabie disease.
1t was II physical impossibility that
no eve. would be wei! again; the
chances were that he would die with
i'll q month, and it was the sgonizing
desire OF his venerable and heart.brok.
Ell mother that he might have his last
hours soothed by her abiding election,
outside the prison walls. The War.
den dwelt upon Flam's fidelity and
efficiency in the discharge OF hisprison
duties. The doctor demonstrated
that he could not possibly recover his
health.
The Chaplain expressed his convic.
tion that Elam was thoroughly asham-
ed OF his past and would die in the
faith. Nor We're these the only ap.
plicants for Flam's pardon. The Dis
trlct Attorney who had convicted
him was another. He wrote that he
was heartily in favor OF his release,
that Justice did not require that a dy.
ing man should be pursued with the
rigors OF the law. The foreman OF the
jury that found Flam guilty also
made an eloquent appeal III behalf OF
the truly good dying felon, quoting to
the Governor respectfully, but still
with the underscored, "lIesha
have Justice without mercy that
| showed no mercy"
AS soon us the mail train could car.
ry it the pardon reached Auburn.
The Warden was paralyzed. lack
Flam partloncd! Great Scott. What
was the Governor thinking Of? How.
ever, there the pardon was. duly sign
ed aud sealed, and Fam stepped out
of prison free man. Wasted to %
skeleton? Hardly. lie weighed two
hundred pounds ii lie weighed five.
The victim OF an incurable disease?
lncurablc bosh-he was as sound and
as tough as u hickory sapling. A re-
formed man? Motto my extent that
the chaplain could appreciate.
A few weeks after Flam regaincd his
liberty it chanced that the District
Attorney referred to came to Albany
on business. His business transacted,
he found he had an hour Mt his dis
posal before it would he time for him
to take the train for home. Accord
ingly he made up his mind to pay
his respects to the Governor. They
were warm friends and had pleasant
chat. AS the District Attorney rose
to 90 he remarked:
Governor. | am surprised that so
upright n Chief Magistrate should
have pardoned SO consummate ras-
cal as Jack Flam."
"Well, for cool impudence that
beats anything have ever heard"
laughingly replied the Governor. Gait
er first beseeching me to pardon Flam,
you turn around and upraid me for
granting your request"
This led to an explanation. The
District Attorney assured the Gov
ernor he had signed no application
for the pardon OF Flam. The dumb
founded Governor rang for the par.
don clerk. and when he appeared ask
ed in an excited tone that the appli-
cationfo for Jack Flam's pardon should |
be brought to him. Taking the pa
pers the Governor hurriedly turned
to one OF the letters, and placing u
finger on the signature attached to it,
lie handed it to the District Attorney
with the remark, "Isn't that your
autograph"
Glancing Mt the writing the District
Attorney replied: "No, that is not
my autograph. but I'm bound to say
it's an excellent imitation OF it,"
Tableau!
A madder man than that Governor
never existed. Five minutes later the
pardon clerk hurried to the telegraph
office with Il dispatch, asking the uu.
thorities OF Auburn Prison ii 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 personal favor if he would
crush" it and request the Auburn