The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1897-04-10
A Very Sad Case.
NinneSOta Prison MirrOr.)


A most pathetic incident transpired
here the past week. Harry Wilson,
serving tive-year sentence from Hem
nepin Co., was the happiest man in the
prison a few days before when Warden
Wolfer informed him he had procured
his pardon. Though very sick at the
time, his coming freedom ana thoughts
of the parents who would soon clasp
him to their hearts again brought an
assurin. smile to the palid brow. At
ter the necessary preparations We're
made his father, who lives at Davilla,
Texas, was telegraphed for and arrived
here Saturday, at 900 p. NJ. but the
spirit of hts son had left its earthly
frame just three hours previously. The
anguish of the parent was heartrending
when he found that his boys lips were
forever sealed in this world.
Death was the result of consumption
primarily, though entirely unexpected
that afternoon, the patient seeming to
be enjoying unusual good rest. The
immediate cause Of death was the
bursting of the pulmonary vein. Harry
was sleeping peacefully Saturday after
noon when the nurse in charge sum-
moned Or. Beebe as the patient awoke
choking, with the blood rushin. from
bis mouth. But no earthly power could
now stay the hand of the Grim Reaper.
The grief-stricken father who was SO
near the end Of his long journey from
Texas was two late, and bowed his head
to the will of Providence as his tears
fell on the inanimate form of his once
happy boy now taken from him in the
| flush of youth.
LAST SAD RITES.
The inmates assembled in the chapel
Sunday afternoon to pay a last tribute
to their ellow-unfortunate who has
gone to the court Of the infallible
Judge before whom king and peasant
must stand alike. Appropriate an
thems were rendered by the prison
choir. Warden Wolter spoke very feel
! ingly OF the boy as he told us of the cir
cumstances surrounding the case, and
| his efforts to secure pardon for him
earlier. But such was an impOssibility
as there was no pardoning power vested
III any state official since Dec. 31st until
the board of pardons' law was legally
enacted and the members appointed.
| Wilson was the first one to be pardoned
! by that board.
Chaplain Albert conducted the SER
| vices. The bereaved parent was pres
ent and what thoughts flashed through
| his mind in this hour of grief, as he
gazed on the casket amid the surround
| lngs of SO many unfortunatcs in their
prison garb can only be conjectured
/ The chaplain spoke modestIy and
calmly of the boy as he had known HIM.
No flaring of virtue was INDUCED in.
The tears welled up in the eyes of many
a strong man whose heart Yves long ago
| hardened by his own peryers1ty and
adverse surroundings. The solemnity
! of death made US all kin as we watched
! the bowed head of the stricken father
who knew his son only as a God fear
ing, loving child
One tribute we can justly pay to our
| departed Comrade: He was clean
/ spoken; free from profanity ard ribald
slang. This we could say in life as we'll
as at death. May it be a consolation to
/ to the parents with whom, as convicts
and men, we deeply sympathize, TO
| know that vicious though the world
may consider us we can pay silent hon.
/ age to true virtue; and We know that a
mouth tree from profanity and vile
/ language can only have its source in an
honest heart