The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1895-11-28
The "Tombs Angel"

Every city has its prison. In some of the
largest cities this prison is called 1.-The tOmbs."
Every prison, however, does not have its angel
The honor of having one belongs to one of our
greatest sister cities.
Several years ago a little woman, Slight III
figure. with large. expressive brown eyes full of
kindness for all who greeted her. created new
kind of benevOlence. There are so many benev
client associations and charities that this was
not an easy matter but the woman'S Sympathies
were so large and her determination SO resOlute
to do good. that her purpose was fully accom-
plished.
At first she was led to visit prisons. In doing
this she found that frequently innocent people
were arrested and sent to jail. who were too
poor to command bail, and that harm and
misery resulted from this legal requirement..
Touched by this. she concluded to give her life
to going from prison to prison. looking for
people who had been wrODgfully arrested. and
then bailing them out. She soon became known
among Judges. lawyers and the unfortunate
prisoners as the "bondsgvng tombs angel"
How many prisoners do you bail out
week." she was recently asked.
sometimes | give bail for two or three day
until my money is all tied up" she answered,
shyly. my house is the only security I can
offer. Some people think am rich because l
go bail SO often. That is perhaps the reason no
one has offered to help me. But am only try
ing to do my duty and if must work alone
accept the condition. and do the best can
"DO you frequently lose money!"
In the eight years that have been trying to
help the innocent who were oppressed ! have
had only TWO disappointments. l rely almost
entirely upon the impression which the prisoner
makes upon me. | suppose it is matter Of in
Stinct rather than of reason. In the last eight
years l have given bail amounting to ninety
nine thousand dollars, but have only been de-
ceived twice.
Ion Tuesday helped a man out of the police
court, and today got an attempted suicide out
of the General Sessions Court. You should
have seen the poor fellow. Poverty and despair
had driven him to an attempt to lake his life
He was slowly bleeding to death when they
found him. He promised me that he would
make no more attempts of that kind, and gave
bonds for his good behavior. When we left the
courtroom and 1 took him home, he was so
weak that he could hardly walk
| At one time the district attorney sent word to
the "tombs angelo that one of the prisoners for
whom she had given bail had failed to appear
and that her bond had been forfeited. Greatly
excited, she fastened to the Judge and explained
| that she had not been notified according to the
law to produce the man. If she had been, a
summons from her would have been enough to
bring him.
In that case your bond will not be forfeited -
said the Judge with great kindness; ''but
should like to warn you against giving bail so
| Unfortunately. You have a good heart and
mean well. but l am afraid that your sympathy
leads you to help people who are not deserving"
| Her simple reply was:
| Your honor. that was Christ's way. / try to
do my duty. If l make mistake, am sure
God will overlook it,
| do you seek to help any particular cass?"
| mo, do not. Man, woman or child, black
| or white, Catholic, Protestant or Hebrew. all
| have claim on me if they are unfortunate and
| innocent. Although am Protestant 1 look
upon all people of all other religions, and people
of ne religion, as my brothers and sisters.'
No one can estimate the good that this rare
woman is doing. There is something knightly
| in her simple trust in God and mana trust
upon which she is willing to stake her home and
means of living. The spirit of such life is in
! spring. Companion.