The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-12-27
DRIVEN TO CRIME.
Pardon for n Convict who stole to
Feed His Hungry Family.

GUTHRIE, o. T., Dec. 26.-The story of
A. w. Foote, one of the Oklahoma prisoners
granted Christmas pardon this evening by
Governor Barnes, is very remarkable one,
showing how a continuous train of misfor-
tune seemed to follow the man and drag
him down. Foote is a graduate of the Ne
braska State University, and his petition
for pardon is signed by the Governor of
Nebraska, all of the faculty of the Nebraska
State University, professors in Leland Stan
ford University, senators and congressman
and many other prominent men, He left
home at the age of twenty, worked his way
through the university and graduated with
honors. Soon after graduating he married
a college girl He prospered for Il time,
and three children came to gladden. their
home and swell the expense of living.
Then came adversely, and in the fall of
1892 he determined to better his fortunes in
oklahoma, and came TO Guthrie, landing
here with his family and 81 in cash. He
was unable to get money to ship his house
hold goods from Lincoln or to purchase
Others and for weeks they lived in small
house without furniture of any kind Sleep
ing on straw on the floor. Later he bought
a little furniture, and was getting his family
comfortable when his parents and sister and
husband arrived from nebraska. The moLh-
er at once took sick and died in a month,
ana the funeral expenses TOOK ali of tooCe's
money. month later he fell from a scat
fCid and was unable to WORK Tor months.
re then secured country school and pro-
Yided the necessities of life for his family
again, but IN q short time his father was
para yZed and lay at their home for many
months absolutely he.pl SIS. W lille The lather
was laying there a sister came IN on tneIn
and died. and they had her funeral ex-
penses 10 pay. Other brothers and sisters
VINO had secured all of the parents prop
erty refused TO care for the paralyzed
father or to help pay the expenses and his
sickness soon exhausted the Foote purse
as well as strength of FoOte and his wife.
A few months later Mrs, toote, from ex-
haustion in caring for the father was
afflicted with spinal trouble and became
With a helpless father and wife, with
three little children and suffering from his
own injuries, Foote struggled along for a
year, existing on what he could earn at
odd jobs, but desperation finally drove him
TO crime and he stole to keep his loYed
ones from starvation A series of small
until one night FOote was caught leaving
house with stolen articles. he arrest
ed and confessed and part of the stolen
goods were recovered. 1t was shown that
he stole only last resort to keep his
family from starving, but the courts knew
years in the penitentiary.
His Wife and children were sent to her
parents home in Ray county, Missouri, but
lHey were LOO pOOT ~ care IOI IleT anu sent
her on to sister in Valparaiso, Ind. She
made this trip on a cot in the baggage car.
but when they learned that her husband
was a convict they shut their door in her
face and sent her back to Ray county on
~the same cot. Here she was put in the
poorhouse, where she died last May, and
was buried in pauper's grave. The young
est child is with its grandparents, but the
two little girls are thrown on the world
with nobody to care for them, and Foote
asked to be pardoned paroled on any
condition or terms simply to give him a
chance to work and care for them. The
pardon was granted by Governor Barnes
as soon. as the facts We're presented TO
him. and was tonight telegraphed to Foote
at the penitentiary as a Christmas present.
:, Beside the. pardon to. Foote. Governor
Barnes this aftel noon isspSdt Il, istmas par
dons to Clyde Hartsell, aged fifteen, serv-
ing two years from Canadian county for
burglary; Glenn Rogan, serving two years
from Oklahoma county for burglary, anu
James w. Kidd, sentenced to pay 800 fine
and costs in Canadian county for pointing
a gun cote had served but two years
CT is sentence nd artsel d Rogan ca h
one year, but ali had earned good time and
were reported exemplary prisoners.