The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-02-25
SAM ROB|NSON'S CAREER.
A COLOR ADO CRIMINAL TEELs THE
STORY OF HIS LIFE.
Warden CfsEhorn OF the state Pent-
Tertiary VIII Attempt tn save
the Released Convict From Gov
ernmcnt Prosecution-His story.

\ warden Of a penitentlary. having IN
charge a great number u desperate Grim
inals. naturally becomes cautious about
expressing sympathy for any az the peo-
pie placed IN safe keeping. That there
are times when men are wrongfuliy con-
victed CT crime. and when unjust punish
ments are inflicted, there can De no cues
ton. bur the exceptions are rare War
den John Clegncrn. cf The Colorado state
penltenlary. j. a man az Judgment. tact
and discernment- His administration 81
the prison Is such as 20 command for am
the respect CT the criminals IS well as thar
OF the public n larSe One notorious
criminal. whose facility In breaking ou-
of the strongest walls has made him IA
nous in criminal circles, has told Nj.
Clsghorn that ne will make no effort 70
escape so long as thar official IS in caaTge
But when you SO, Mr.. Cfeghorn. / 20
toe he has said and the turkeys ard
guards a. the penyentiary openly say that
he viii keep his word
Recently a case came mp which 50
strongly appealed to Warden Clsgh0ras
sense of justice and 20 aroused MS SYM
pathy that he has made a special effort
In behalf OF the unfortunate man. The
story is interesting because Of several rea-
sens. Mr.. Cleghorn's present effort IS 10
appeal 10 the highest authorities 10 pre-
vent. II possible the trial OF = released
convict for an old crime alleged 20 have
been committed IN No Mans Land ten
years ago.
Last week sam Robinson was released
from the state penitent!ary at Canon City
having served 4 term OF fourteen years
for robbery. His long period was served
without his having violated a single rule
Of the prison and his conduct won for
him the respect and coed will of all the
cfici3is. Mr.. Cieghorn said that for years
Robinson had been trusty; he was gwen
tasks which often took him ten or twenty
miles from the peniteutiary walls into the
Hills and rugged mountains which sur
round the pen!tentiary on three sides
There were abundant opportunities for
escape and had Robinson ever undertaken
70 20 II is probable that no very strong
effort would ever have been made TO APP
Hrehend him. But Robinson was loyal
20 the trust imposed in him and he served
the long years Of his sentence faithfully,
while looking forward to the time when
he should b. n free man-when he would
rcjoin his wife and family In a peaceful
farm distric; in Illinois.
When Robinson walked out Of the pant
Tertiary with S. In his pocket and 4 rev
suit OF clothes he had time enough %
take one breath Of free air when govern
meut officials stepped mp "a him and
caused his arrest on the charge Of fnur-
der. said 20 have been committed by MN
the days OF borl,r ruffianism. To say
that Robinson was surprised and amazed
would be TO put il mildly. The mans facs,
pale with years Of confinement, turned
chalky white lie gave A gasp and broke
down in tears. sobbing ike a child. After
he had somewhat regaihed his composufe
he said:
II thought that 7 had been punished
enough for aH my misdeeds and that
might go free 20 be man once more and
live a decent life. | have once been tried
for that old crime and they failed 70 con-
vict me l am innocent OF the charge
and now. If I am 70 suffer once more,
7 might rs well give IN hope
Robinson was brought TO Denver and
lodged IN the county jau to await he
process If legal machinery which may
cause his transportation 20 Paris. Tex.
where he Is TO stand trial for murder
Warden Clerhorn Immediately came 10
Denver and appealed 20 tire United States
prosecuting attorney IN this city to- use
his best efforts TO. prevent the case being
brought 70 trial and secure. IL possible,
the early release Of Robinson. Further
than this. the warden has determined 10
appeal 20 the officials who Will conduct
the trial. 20 the Judge sitting on the case
and "a Washington officials. II need be-
he VIII make Il personal appeal 10 the
president for clemency upon behalf -
this man In whom he has taken 50 great
an Interest.
While IN the county jail Robinson toli
his story frankly - a Record correspond
emit
Il was born in Jessemer county. Ken
lucky forty-four years . go Of GOOD fam
ily. and al my family are quiet cittxe~s
~ that state. After my wife died. when
I was about . years old 7 came west
and took up a ranch IN western Kansas
I fro,
Il cowboy. q sheep herder, and was no;
better. ] suppose. than many people who
lived there. I married and had committed
no crime IN that district untN the fufor-
tuHate occurrence for which they now
seek 10 have me suffer God knows 7
have suffered enough already and +.
seems to me- that justice could demand
nothing further.
I'm l>S. with A. J. Cook and 4. II.
Don0el. | went from Kansas to No Mans
Land on a fishing and huntiag expedI-
tlon. we took our families along curnp-d
cut By the way and remained Two or three
DAYS Ia that district. on our way bark
We stopped az = ranch or Golf creek frr
the night In the morning We discovered
'he piaee WAS surrounded rs posse
armed Hith Winchssters 4 man On hors~-
hack rode up. waving n paper in his hsrF.
ard asked me 90 surrender oh. T DONE
know whether I wll surrender or not
answered. Tie looked ~ RE a moment
ara he said Wen lt you have ~ OBJ
tections ! vii ride back 10 nv friends
ard 'eH them that you refuse 90 zarren-
der. and he rode away aid not know
what he wanted me for and do not
know % this day
y went hack into the house ana faiRsF
the matter over with my friends We
watched the posse. as they evidently Ir- .
tended - make Us trouble. After awhile .
three men rode - Within speakinw dis 7
ta~ce ans sasd that II ga nor savren- .
der fhry y ouI8 open fire. upon The Mace
and kif every mar. woman and ehllA.
They to,3 the ranchuan tha- he cou;f
withdraw his family before thay began
operations ard che c}9 rnaa pitched un hfs
team ard drove -. 7 s1w thH- pva were
ir f0~ e ara 'het e wouid % useless far
an 80 rs sacrificed for ne posse wz< 80
b'g 'hat they coti'3 have cleaned "a ora,
50 7 told ms people that 7 would make
a ~un for = and gst out - could Thev
seemed - want ma alone ana = I gos
away thFv would leave nv wifi al
friends alone - 7 mounted ny horse
bareback sn1 started
"a was pretty good rfae- ana adopted /.
. - s-F ~fE