St. Paul daily globe., 1894-06-18
STORIES OF PRISON LIFE.
cONVicTS VINO HAVE SUCCEEDED
Nv LEADING REFORMED LIVES.
THE GREAT EFFORT MADE

THE GREAT EFFORT MADE
To Rebuild a Shattered Reputa-
tion-Pathetic End of One
Armed Man Who Was Engaged
in Doing Retter - Incidents
Which Prove That Men Can
Reform il Strong Enough of
Will-Two Brothers Who Lived
as EXiles Though Had Done
No Wrong.
Written for the Globe
another good man gone wrong" "
The words are often seen printed in
glaring headlines. proclaiming to the
world the failure and disgrace of one
who has fallen in life's battle.
Another bad man gone right'-are
there none such? Yet trulhfuily could
these words be written. marking many
a hard won victory wrenched from aD-
parent defeat, at the expense of such
long years OF honest toll, or patient ell
deavor, of quiet submission, OF
such agony of heart and mind and
body, as would make the victor a
hero. could all the truth be known. But
ii cannot be. To those whose sins have
found them out. as in the case of those
convicted of crime by law. the struggle
back 10 responsibility is one long effort
to down the unfortunate past, whose
evil shadow would tl;;rken their sunni
est day if it were brought to view. In
exorabIe public opinion shuts the door
in the face of society's outcasts. and even
the churches are not much better. MY
folks are all good Christians" said one
ev-convict when urged TO write home,
confess his faults and ask forgiveness
and aid. They would never forgive
me if they knew had been in prison" j"
Against such preJudices and under such
conditions must the battle to regain
their lost estate be fought. that the
wonder is, not that so many eX-con-
Sicts again go wrong. but that so many
go right. Of course, there are many who
nave no desire to do right. who gl ,ry in
their evil deeds, who would throw away
the chance of doing better if it were
offered to them; but there are also
many who long for that same chance,
WHO hunger and thirst after righteous
ness and find every condition of life
dead against them, and their own per.
vertcd natures at war with their better
desires. And pride. the most difficult
enemy of all to conQuor-how hard 1t is
for any of us to be humble!
Il bow before the noble mind that freely
some great wrong forgives,
Yet nob.er is the one forgiven. who bears
that burden well, and lives"
The following stories. for obvious rea-
sons somewhat nOn-commttal as to
localities and names. are vouched for as
stories Of fact. Illustrative of the strug-
giles and consequent success of some eX-
convicts who have reformed.
\ number of years ago a certain we'll
known st. Paul man. occupying position
oftrust, ,defau!ted to a large amount, was
convicted and sentenced to serve a
term of years at the penitentiary at
Saltwater. On his release he devoted
much of his time, strength and money
10 The assistance OF eX-convicts in need
Of helping hand, nobly striving to
turn the bltterest experience of
his life into helpful blessing to others.
Among those whom his charity be.
friended was a one-armed eX-convlct,
whuse afflict;on rendered it difficult for
him TO find work that he could do, and
whose past record was so unsavory few
would be willing 10 believe that he
meant what he said when he pro
tested his desire to reform and
lead a better life. He had been
two or three times in prison.
had violent temper, and from his rec
o1d seemed to have been thoroughly
committed to criminal life. His frierC
took him at his word, however, and
through personal influence aud sulicita-
ton secured for him position as
"newsy" Oh certain line OF railroad
advancing $50 to the man to put I'D as
security. This the man appropriated
to his own use without taking the posi-
ton. which, OH investigation, did moi
come up to his expectations, ingeniously
arguing that his friend loaned the
money to him for his assistance, and
preferrlng to use the assistance in his
own way. Somewhat discouraged. the
friend concluded to let the man find
work in his own way. Contrary to ex
pectatlons. he persevered in his efforts
and finally did obtain employment in
selling gaily-hued rugs from house te
house. While busily at work and hon
es'ly striving to do right he was ar
rested, charged with committing 6
highway robbery, of which he
was entirely innocent. His pas
record was against him, and his
one friend and helper was sick in bed
but did not leave him defenseless, Ar
influential friend was summoned, who
i'll spite of rebukes from the police, whc
said the man was bad fellow, bette,
OFF in prison than out of it, etc. secured
reliable witnesses who proved beyond
doubt that the man was ten miles
away from the place when the robbery
was committed. He was released, but
on account of the notoriety thus gained
the man was discharged from his posi
ton. and though he hunted diligently
and desperately for honest work. he
could not find 1t. Had he been gjver
to reading poetry he might have applied
Carleton's appropriate rhyme to ex-
press the bitterness of his unfruitfu
search:
The world itself seemed to me everv bit
As hard prison as the one I'd quit;
The houses sCowled ard stared, as if to say
'Iou iail-brd, we are honest; walk away.'.
The factory seemed to scream, when cam,
near:
Stand Lack. unsentenced men are wo1kiu,
here;
And virtue had the appearance all tine tim
OF trying hard 10 push me back to crime.''
In utter despair lie went to the in
fluential friend who had come to hi
assistance when arrested. and, will
tears running down his face, announce,
that te would have to give up--th
world diG not want him. and he coul
find no opportunity 10 earn living. H