The prison mirror. [volume] (Stillwater, Minn.) 1887-1894, 1891-12-10
Saltwater, Mimi, Thursday, Dec. 10, 1891.

and-my God, do not know which way to
turn or what to dol"
During this recital the reporter had no.
ticed his dress before he referred to it, and
had recognized that he was, to all familiar
with State Prison regulations, as markedly
clothed in prison garb as if he still wore the
striped uniform. 1t consisted of pantalOons
and coat of dark. coarse material with
small white stripe. peak cap. with flaps
for turning down. and a pair of brOgan
shoes. Being encouraged to continue his
recital. he said:
Il am by calling telegraph operator and
newspaper correspondent. About May
1. 1890. was engaged by Box of New
York. we'll known manager of a newspa-
per syndicate, to visit and write up the
military forts of the West, public interest
having been attracted to them by charges Of
gross mStreatment of the soldiers. l Sc
cured this engagement through the kind
ness and good offices of Colonel John G.
BittiDger of the st. Joseph Herald. [
started on my mission Immediately, but got
no further than Kansas City when misfort-
une came upon me. | was, on the infOr-
nation of man l never saw or heard of
before, arrested on charge of having
forged the signature of this man to money
order and obtained the money on it. There
were peculiar circumstances in the case
which it is needless for me to explain. that
initiated against my plea of innocence. and
on the testimony of the prosecuting witness
l was on the ninth day of May, 1890. con-
victed and sent to the penitentiary. Being
guilty of no Offense, was naturally crush
ed and humiliated with shame and mOrtifi-
cation at the lifelong disgrace that had
come upon me-SO strangely and uneXpect-
edly; but bore up under it as we'll as l
could and hoped for deliverance. How or
in what form could not tell, but. thank
God. it came.
1.-The man who had so grossly wronged
me became conscious stricken. and, con-
Tossing that he had put up job on me and
had cashed the money order himself, he
surrendered to the Government authorities
in Kansas City. where he now languishes
in Jail. l was accordingly pardoned by the
President. as stated. last Thursday, and be-
ing supplyed with this suit of clothes and
few dollars was given leave to depart. L
took the next train for this city in hopes of
finding employment. Coming down on the
train | was soon made conscious that all
who noticed me at once recognized that l
was an eX convict and Stunned me as they
would viper. Just before reaching Grand
Avenue the conductor came to me and said:
See here. young fellow, if you do not want
to be pulled again you had better leave the
train at Grand Avenue. for as sure as you
60 down to the Union Depot the police will
nab yOu.'
Il was greatly worried over this and
pOndered in my mind what L should do. 1t
occurred to me that perhaps the conductor
was not as much interested in having me to
escape trouble as he pretended, and that
had telegraphed to the city authorities that
7 0H Of
impressed with this view, the more l
thought of it. L finally determined not to
follow his advice. but continue on the train
to the Union Depot. 1 did so and was not
moested; but l had hardly prOdeeded a
square up town when was met by an Of
ficer and closely questioned before he would
allow me to proceed. A like experience
occurred to me every few blocks while in
search of some place to stop. for it was no
easy matter for me to find lodging place,
as all seemed to know from whence came.
I have tramped this town all day, from
place to place. hunting for work, but no
one will listen to me or even give me an
encouraging word. 1 am continually being
tracked by detectives. and time and again
to day have been stopped and questioned
and made to show my papers before al
lowed to proceed. am really now afraid
to go back to my boarding house for fear I
will find the police awaiting to apprehend
me. If they do, l know that l am to be
taken to the hOldOver where will, without
a hearing. be confined as held for the
chief, and kept there twenty. four hours at
least. Thus am I, sir. beset on every hand,
with starvation staring me in the face, and,
my God, I do not know what to dO."-St.
Louis Republic.