The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1890-10-30
LOVE CAUSED HIS FALL.
THE PATHETIC STORY OF A JOLIET
PRISON "TRUSTY."

arm ioi biporty, no NeSlStS All Tomp-
! tation, Unti! n Woman Smiled on Him
and lie Falls
CHICAGO, Oct. 23.-Eyerybody who
mas visited that living tomb, the Joliet
fenltentlarv, cannot but feel sorry to
learn that Robert Click, the "trusty" OF
Warden BerKgren, has fallen fro N
grace. The solitary figure in convict
garh standing on the narrow platform
ut the pententiary depot was the last
rtcollcctlon that visitors carried away
OF the horrors Of that dismal place, <
INK between the wretchedneSs within
the walls and the glad freedom out
uoorS, the hearty goOd-hy from the
'ralnnen TO the convict as the train
| moved or fingered in the memory of
| !hoSc VINO heard 1t like dcathbed part
ing between friends. Even the train
men themselves, who have long grown
accustomed to see tho half-frce convict
swinging his lamp at the stoppinr
place ut all hours Of the night, have
never been able to overcome the feel
ing Oh sadness and sympathy as they
nave watched him trudge back to hi,
Wretchcd prison home, faithful as a
dog returning to its collar and chain.
They all knew his story. Years ago,
when first tho new "trusty" appeared
aS the depot, single glance into his
clear ID NC eyes was sufficient to make
the tranmcn his friends. That Ward
den McClauShrcy had made good Sc.
lection III the new "trusty" was admit
lea even before they heard his story.
iiaC ne was ll1e convict, and that his
crime was Willful mlrder, made no di f.
ference. Any one could see that he
was honest rs day y-light, and the sym-
pathics Of his new associates went ont
10 hlln even before they had learned
lhe details OF his one Olfense against,
ms country'S laws. Visitors to the
prison who have left the building with
l"rlllngS strangely Alternating between
rHpusnancc and pity for the miserable
occupants of the Whitc-washed cells.
| nave seldom Failed to question the con-
Elct guide who escorted them to the
tra,h now IL happened that he WAS in
n"cH pace And, indeed, it did ap.
pear '"orc than strange that a man Of
LIS "hqucStlonrd honesty should be
among the condemned. Without at.
tempting either to minimize his nIfens,
or to appeal for sympathy, Click W0uli
answer that he had killed a man and
hau been sentenced for life. Seven
years ago the crime had been commit
yea, aiiu seven years ago he had worn
ms iirSt suit Of stripes. Seven wear,
h''h'r ne would in all probability be
wearing still another suit OF strinas
ana s" on from year TO year until
"mayD" when I'm an old man Tn ret
out of here" e''
TO near young man full of vigor
mus talking hopefully of the time
Whcn he should be IN old man and free
"nt' hSalh TO earn his daily bread was
p"ihii'iiy SAP. Curiosity and sympa-
tlH tt,t
ana TIE convict would not hesitate to
give 1t. 1t was Il very ordinary Guor,
rel that had resulted in the loss of life
TO Nick victim and the loss of liberty
/" Glck hmSrlf. Click was a hostlrr in
'he employ OF Il horse trader in South.
ern Illinois. Between his emplovnr
ana Il nelghhoring dealer a bitter feud
had long existed, and whenever nnces-
Slty arose for business negottntions
between tn" two Glck ALWAYS acted ns
representative OF his employer. On
one OF these occasions high words arose
between Glck and the rival horse deal
CT. y nSAt seemed imminent. Ac-
corulnS TO Clicks story his opponent
WAS on Ihc point Of drawing Il knife
When friend thrust revolver into
Gick'S hand. y second later the horse
dealer was dead, shot through the heart
Dy Il bullet from Clicks gun. Then
ioil0"cd Il long imprisonment and
trlai; Iopu!ar opinion ran high that
the uccd had been inStiratcd by Gicli's
employer. Every induccmcnt was Of
Tered to G,ck to confess that his cm-
ployrr had actuated the crime. But TO
every appeal Click replied that the kin
ing had been done in sclf-defcnse. and
'il2I II he were placed in the same 20
a.tion again-an angry opponent about
70 oraW knife, and q revolver thrust
inlo ms own hand at the instant when
mp llio seemed IN most imminent peril
ne would act Just as he had done.
!: c,2cHSeiiceu TO the penitentary for
NE, Glcli accepted his fate as stoically
as he had undergone the ordeal of triaI
an" jail imprisonment. His new life
began IN the harness shop, where his
CONDUCT was so exemplary that War
Il Heh McClanghrey singled him out as
ms 'truSty' or confidential servant. In
ms capacity almost unlimited conf
ichcc WAS repOSed In the convict. The
Journey TO and from the station. which
Is Wlthln stones throw of the prison
gates, was the least Of the chance,
In Clicks way to escape hal he
so desired. AS confidential servant to
Ine warden Click WAS often sent. dress
+" IN clN!l!an'S clothes, into the cit, of
'oliG'. lhc fast horses in the warden's
81 'a"le were at the convict's disposal
Whrn"vcr, as often happcLcd, his dlties
.ooN MN TO any considerable distance
rom the prison. Thus it happened
mat on the streets Of Joliet the convict
,tcame one of the best known figures.
l,eoplc would stop to exchange good |
uay WIN the honrst-looking fellow.
Acqualhtanccs began to multiply. and
"lIhln Il radius of Il dozen miles there
were lew who had not a good word to
say on behalf of Robert Click, the war
den's "trusty."
WoMidnt yon like to get out of
prison." was y question put to Click Il
uHIeh llmeS day. to which his invari- |
aple ar,a irepiy was, Il would give my right
arm Tor liberty, but not my honor. In
thc eyes OF the law | am Il murderer
nuC can stand that rather than feel
thal am not honest. Ineyer deceived
d man who trusted me. and Iuon't pro-
pose to begin now"
buI alas Tor the poor fellows sense of
,io'ioI. rI. IN Il moment of madness. in |