The Banner-Democrat., 1893-10-28
What Whiskey has Done for Young
Man Now in the Penitentlary.


Only a drink, Only bf6ken heart
Only a mothers bitter tears, only a
lifernined just at its dawn only scald-
ing tears shed in prison cell by
young man condemned to suffer a
living death for two long. dreary
years.
That is what whiskey bas done for
me! oh some will say. "he de-
serves it for being so weak. l could
keep from letting whlskey get the best
of me.'
If / have said those words once I
have said them hundred times, yet
here I am IN my cell in the State
prison writing these lines hoping that
the perusai of them will keep some
young man from ruin.
Unlike most stories. l put the moral
of this one at the beginning-it is:
s.Let whiskey and all kinds of liquors
alone" Here is my story.
Thirty years ago | first saw the light
of day in pleasant home in Connecti-
cut. / was brought mp by the most
kindest and most indulgent father aud
the most loving mother boy ever bad.
had every advantage that love and
money could procure. l had a
thorough college educAEion. aud at the
age of Is was we'll fitted to commence
the battle of life. Receiving some
money from my father started for the
West. located in prosperous mining
town in New Mexico and engaged in
the general merchandise business.
For two years did splendid business
and accumulated quite respectable
bank account. As most young men
will, | wanted to get rich al II once
and speculated in miaes with the usual
result-at the end of 4 year was fiat
broke, still l was young, and ci1eered
by my mothers lovin, counsel. I made
new start. took two years
course in a machine shop, and by strict
attention to business | became a 1rst-
class machinist and engineer. /
worked at that trade for a year, saved
my money and made many friends.
Through their influence / obi aimed a
position as book keeper in wholesale
house in the East. After | had been
with them for six months Invent on the
road as Il salesman. 1t was while in
that capacity took my first drink of
Intoxicating liquor. The habit grew
upon me until neglected my business
and was discharged. All my far
weather friends now deserted me, and
no one believed in me but my dear
mother God bless her. she never lost
faith in her only son. l went from
place to place until obtained a posi-
tion as reporter on Il large newspaper
on the Pacific coast, and by strict at
tention to my duties was advanced to
the position of travelling correspondent.
For two years didnot touch drop
of anything. Last summer | was in
New Orleans. and while there the
temper came to me and fell l said
..a man is fool if he cannot control
himself" and Il went out with the
bows"
From New Orleans I went to Lake
Charles. had often received money
by telegraph, and while in Lake
CDai lcS Il COuSciNcu III NY ihu'utOe'
apology for brain the idea of writing
the telegram myself--and here let me
state that WAS in that condition that
the thought of doing wrong never en-
tered my mind-I wrote the telegram.
presented it to the cashier of the First
National Bank. He made me all
evasive answer. ard like flash the
enormity of what l had done came
upon me- left the bank and Lake
Charles at one. did not receive one
cent of money. and did not wait to
see what the cashier would say.
walked ten miles in the broiling hCt
sun. and that evening took the train
for the South. At Orange, Tex, the
conductor (having received my de-
scription from the sheriff at Lake
Charles) put nae off the train and soon
/ was undeY arrest and placed in Jail
at that place. The following day
was taken back and two days afterward
l was charged with forgery. For a
month lay in Jail and when court con
vened was taken before the judge.
plead guilty and received sentence
of two years in the penitentiary. Then
came the agony of remorse, but too
late. My name forever blackened and
disgraced. my poor mothers heart
broken, and l in cell with no CON-
pany but my thoughts. Do l deserve
it? My answer is yes; yet the punish
ment is hard to bear, not for myself
but for those who are dearer to me
than life and who too must suffer my
disgrace.
Now. young man, when the temptel
comes to you with his soft oily tongue.
saying "oh You can control your appe-
tite, you won't let liquor get the best
of your Judgment" and all such talk,
tell him he is liar, and let the demon
of whiskey alone.
Ifeel in my heart that my confine-
ment here will be of benefit to me. fol-
I can truly say that this place beats the
Keeloy cure. and l believe that the
cure is more lasting. If | am permit.
ted, in my next will try and depic!
life inside of these grim walls. Il
these lines will keep one young man
from throwing himself away by. drink.
ing l shall be amply repaid for telling
my history.