The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1895-02-27
WASTED ELoQuRsCR.
A Convlcts Plea for 4 Coveted Prison
Job-Tramps Are Not All I'm.
educated PeOple.

educated People.
II is not very often that a hobo
has the opportunity toe plead his
own case, but when the occasion
arises 1t Is evident that some have
the ability. Recently Warden James
had occasion TO change the run
ner for the front Office of the pen
itentlary, and this fact was soor
conveyed, In some mysterious way,
to the 2, 100 inmates. How this !:
done Is only known to. prisoners
In view of the fact that they are
not permitted to talk. When the
giant that travels with the Liiipu.
tlan Opera Troupe passed through
the prison a few weeks ago, the
fact was known In the north end
Of the enclosure a half hour before
he arrived.
One Of the aspirants for the va.
cant runnership was james O'Brien
a Cleveland prisoner, who was edu-
Gated for the priesthood, but fell
from grace early in life, as he is a
second.termer. O'Brien Is a we'll
educated man, but loves liquor,
and this has been largely the cause
of his downfall. II cannot be
claimed, however. that he is suff.
ering from excessive modesty, as
he blows his horn in the following
manner:
Warded G. G.. James:
DEAR SIR-I sincerely hope and
trust that you will not think me
presumptuous for asking you to
place me in the position referred
to, in my note Of yesterday. But
can assure you, Warden, that l
was sincere In all that / said yes
terday, and hope you will view my
petition with favor. am but a
tramp, Warden, and my friends
are very few, inside and out; in
fact there is only one in here, in
whom / place the utmost, implicit
confidence, who carries my letters
to you, and who, when we meet in
the yard, shuts one eye aud looks
at me fiercely with the other. l
need hardly say that l refer to my
massive friend, Mr.. Owen Stack.
house.
Warden, l know that sou are in
need of good mana man of
charming personality, ability,
genius, originality and sincerity,
with combination Of discretion
and wit, which is pleasing to the
eye of II sensible man. Warden,
in the physical and mental anat.
omy of your humble servant, you
will find all and each and every
one of the aforesaid. Therefore,
my dear Warden, reverse the US
ual order, and give tramp a trial,
allowing his Appolo-like form
0okelet) to grace that particular
part of this neighborhood, which
looks out upon the calm and placid
bosom ofithe silvery Sctoto.
Whatever my faults may be, /
pride myself upon having repu-
tation, by. those under whom l
have served, of minding my own
business and never interfering
with that of other people. / pride
myself upon being a young man
who knows how far to 90 and
when to stop, in dealing with his
superi0rs, and who never gets his
head swelled or gets too gay in /
times of prosperity. All l ask,
Warden, is for you to give me a
trial and l feel certain that you
will be satisfied. AS l remarked
before, / haven't many friends in
here to intervene in my behalf and
think they are not necessary.
therefore make the appeal to
you, depending first, upon your
good sense, add secondly, upon my
merits and qualifications.
! have. Warden, given the mat
ter much consideration. l am
aware of almost all of the duties,
conditions and temptations per-
tanning thereunto; and / feel per
fectly safe in saying, that If you
VIII do this for me, you will have
no occasion to be sorry for 1t. You
have had all kinds Of people out
there, with the exception oftramps
therefore, Warden, i ask of you to
try me, to try n tramp, who would
much rather sleep meath 81 shady
tree, than 10 go tO church; who
prefers n love story to the Bible at
any stage of the game; but who
has a warm heart, large head.
and a keen sense Of hnmor. Try
me, Warden; all that ask Ia q
lair trial. Respectfully,
O'BRIEN, 23,93s.
Notwithstanding the fact that
JBrlen pleaded his own case so
earnestly, the Warden deemed II
wise to permit him to remain on
he inside of the walls, where
here will be less temptatation.