The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1890-11-06
Antlerso1, gntelltgsneer.
LOVE CAUSED HIS FALL.
The Pathetic Story OF Joliet Prison
Trusty.


Everybody who has visited that living
tomb, the Joliet Penitentiary, cannot but
feel sorry to learn that Robert Click, the
"trusty" of Warden Berggren, has fallen
from grace. The solitary figure in con
vict garb standing on the narrow plat
form at the penitentiary depot Was the
last recollection that visitors carried
away of the horrors of that dismal place.
A link between the wretchedness within
the walls and the glad freedom outdoors,
the hearty good.by from the trainmen to
the convict as the train moved off lin
gered in the memory of those who heard
it like a deathbed parting between
friends. Even the trainmen themselves,
who have long grown accustomed to see
the half free convict swinging his lamp
al the stopping place at all hours of the
night, have never been able to overcome
the feeling of sadness apd sympathy as
they have watched him trudge back to
bis wretched prison home, faithful as q
dog returning to its collar and chain.
They all knew his story. Years ago,
when first the new "trusty" appeared at
the depot, single glance into his clear
blue eyes was sufficient to make the
trainmeu his friends. That Warden
McClaughrey had made good selection
| in the new "trusty" was admitted even
before they heard his story. That he
was life convict, and that his crime
was willful murder, made no difference.
Any one could see tina. he Was honest as
daylight, and the sympathies Of his new
associates went out TO him even before
they had learned the details of his one
ofense against his country's laws. Visi-
tnrs to the prison who have left the
building with feelings strangely alter
uatipg between repugnance and pity for
the miserable occupants of the white
washed cells, have seldom failed to ques-
ton the convict guide who escorted them
to the train how it happened that he
was in such place. And, indeed, it
did appear more than strange that man
Of his uuques,ioned honesty should be
among the condemned. Without at.
tempting either to minimize his offense
or to appeal for sympathy, Click would
snswer that he had killed mau and
had been sentenced for life. Seven
years ago the crime had been committed,
and seven years ago he had worn his first
suit of stripes, Seven years hence he
would in all probability be wearing still
another suit of stripes, and 80 on from
year to year until-"maybe when I'm
an old man I'll get out of here"
To hsar young man full of vigor
thus talking hopefully of the time when
he should be an cid man and free once
again to earn his daily bread was pain.
fully sad. Curiosity and sympathy de
manded fuller explanation, and the
convict would not hesitate to give it.
1t was very ordinary quarrel that had
4 resulted in the loss of life to Clicks vic
tim and the loss of liberty to Click him.
self. Click was hostler in the employ
of horse trader in Southern Illinois.
Between his employer and neighbor.
ing dealer bitter feud had long existed,
| and whenever necessity arose for busi-
ness negotiations between the two Click
always acted as representative of his EN-.
ployer. On one of these occasions high
words arose between Click and the rival
horse dealer. A fight seemed imminent
According to Clicks story his opponent
was on the point of drawing knife when
q friend thrust revolver into Clicks
hand. A second later the horse dealer
was dead, shot through the heart by a
bullet from Clicks gun. Then followed
long imprisonment and trial Popular
opinion ran high that the deed had been
instigated by Clicks employer. Every
inducement was offered to Click to con-
fess that his employer had actuated the
crime. But to every appeal Click replied
that the killing had been done in self
defense, and that if he were placed in the
same position again-an angry opponent
about to draw knife, and q revolver
thrust into his own hand at the instant
when his life seemed in most imminent
peril-he would act just as he had done.
Sentenced to the penitentisry for life,
Click accepted his fate as stoically as be
had undergone the ordeal of trial and
Jail imprisonment His new life began
in the harness shop, where bis conduct
was 20 exemplary that Warden Nc.
Claughrey singled him out as bis "trus.
ty" or confidential servant. In this
capacity almost unlimited confidence
was reposed in the convict. The jour
ney to and from the station, which is
within a stones throw of the prison
gates, was the least of the chances thrown
in Clicks way to escape had he 40 desired.
As confidential servant to the warden
Click was often sent, dressed in civilians
clothes, into the city of Joliet. The fast
horses in the Harden's stable were at the
convict's disposal whenever, as often
happened, his duties took him to any
considerable distance from the prison.
Thus it happened that on the streets of
Joliet the convict became one of the
best known figures. People would stop
to exchange good.day with the honest.
looking fellow. AcquaintanceS began to
multiply, and within radius of a dozen
miles there we're few who bad not good
word to say on behalf of Robert Click,
the warden's 'trusty."
"Wouldn't you like to get out of
prison 2" was question put to Click q
dozen times day, to which his invari.
able reply was, 81 would give my right
arm for liberty, but not my honor. In
the eyes of the law am murderer, but
I can stand that rather than feel that
am not honest. never deceived man
Wuo tlusLeu ue3 6uu uoo PAoPooo w
begin now"
But alas for the poor fellows sense of
honor. In moment of madness, in.
fstnated by woman's glances and
morally blinded by the fumes of liquor,
be decided to throw away bis moral OBJ
legation and to elope with woman of
Joliet. Still the old feeling of friendli.
ness, born of honesty and trust, saved
Click at least from the actual breach Of
trust which ne had contemplated.
Among his friends in the prison were
many who, though wearing convicts'
garb, were yet, in Clicks opinion, trust:
worthy. To leave them without a word
was something he had not contemplated,
and 10 the moment when his plans for
freedom seemed on the verge of compile.
ton, he turned to say good-by to those
whom he had trusted. Then came the
catastrophe.
Milton's paradise Lost" contains no
sadder picture than that presented by
| fho " n fortunofa uounp fal1ow torn from