Los Angeles herald. [volume] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1890-1893, 1891-10-13
FROM A coNvIcT,s VIEW
An Outcast Tells of Unsuccessful Effort,
to Lend an Honorable Life.

An Outcast Tells of Unsuccessful Efforts
to Lead an Honorable Life.
Among number of depraved looking
characters who were arraigned in the
Tombs police court for sentence on vari-
GUS charges, from burglary to felonious
assault, / noticed particularly one refined
looking young fellow who, despite his
ragged attire, appeared to be out Of place
in the prisoners pen.
His features were delicate and clearly
defined, with none of the sullen, servile
appearance that is usually one of the
chief characteristics of a criminals coun-
tenance. His eyes were large and clear,
his forehead high, while his chin and
mouth denoted high spirit and an alb
normally sensitive disposition.
He occupied seat as far distant from
his fellow unfortunates in crime as
the burly court officers would permit
His eyes were cast on the floor, and from
his detected appearance it was obvious
that he felt keenly his position.
l engaged him in conversation, and
years will not remove from memory the
fierce bitterness with which he reviewed
his unsuccessful attempts to secure hon
orable employment after the first convic-
ton for some trifling crime.
"My NAME" said he, in answer to my
question, "what do you want with it2
To publish it SO that those who have
sent me here this time will know how
well their prejudice did its work.
"Well, Thomas will do - Charles
Thomas. That is what am called now.
1t is not my real name. | have few
relatives and l respect them. They have
moved from where they lived when |
was first sent away-gone to a new
home to escape my shame-that is why
Pm Thomas"
There is no criminal so hardened but
what he will cherish somewhere behind
his rough exterior tender thought of
past association-a friend, perhaps, or
probably sister, For that reason when
Thomas turned away his head | remain
ed silent. | thought | distinguished
suspicious moisture in his eyes, but
may have been mistaken.
"It is very easy to start, he continued,
''but once started you cannot stop. Peo-
pie will not let you.
"With a crowd of companions one day
| drank more than ! could stand. A
quarrel followed and stabbed one fell
low with my penknife. l was arrested,
tried and convicted and sentenced to
Sing Sing for three years.
"That was enough for me, and when
l came back l tried to start over again.
secured employment as driver. /
had been a clerk in a building material
dealers yard on West Thirtieth street. l
had no trouble, worked hard and was
complimented by my employer. Then
noticed that my associates began to
avoid me. Two or three would get to-
gether, point at me and talk about me in
an undertone.
FINALLY, one day the proprietor came
to me and said, Thomas, | have no
fault to find with you; you have worked
faithfully and hard, but the other men
say you have been convict and that
they will leave if you don't. will have
to discharge you, although l am sorry
He gave me two weeks wages and had
to leave.
81 tried again with like result. Then,
in desperation, robbed store and was
sent away again.
"You wanted to know, mister, how
got here; well, that's how.
'Pm going to Sing Sing for burglary,
and when get out I'll probably go back
for the same crime. Nobody cares, and
Il don't.
"a man who has not been unfortunate
won't work with me. could not get
married even if | tried to settle down
and be respectable. No self respecting
woman would have me.
go where Pm not known Yes, l
could do that, but man can't succeed
when he is acting a lie. 1t would be
found out and l would have to go to an
other place-where I'm not known"
Thomas" shouted a court officer.
Here" replied the unfortunate.
''You are charged with burglary" said
the justice as he approached the bar.
Guilty or not guilty."
"Gailty."
demanded for sentence"
Thomas was led away to cell in the
prison beneath the floor of the court
New York Herald.