New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-12-16
DRAMATIC SCENE IN COURT
, WHO HAS SPENT CHRISTMAS IN
PRISON FOR TWENTY-FIVE YEARS
crTS ANOTHER CHANCE.


dramatic incident occurred yesterday morning
=, Judge Newburgers department OF 'he Court OF
..o-ol Sessions on the arrangement OF William
80 wears old charged with grand larceny.
t4ert sincerity Of the man to reform. his
"A work during the last four years In prison TO
rr trade and his dramatic ana palmetto plea
~ r,ercv ioined in with that OF ID. +. Kimball.
.,resentative Of the Prison Ala ASSOCIATION made
W t,,arestinr situation. The climax came when
az an, NaUburger in a choking voice, talked with
., who broke down and wept like a child.
M. Greater part OF the last twenty-five years
- has been in prison. He has never had a free
,s,r,as IN that time Reno is not a bad looking
"a, He has a frank eountenance. and his hair
~ r,ustache are streaked with gray. He talked
With such sincerit! ana eIHPA"SiS 'ia' e hPie
III n the courtroom.
ooco began his prison service on November p.
-, The last term he served in Clinton
-, where his term was four years. He APP
- himself to learn trade designer
t,,o-v so zealously that in four years he mas
~ ~ the details and Mr.. Kimban told Judge
,ser that he was the best designer in the
-. as far as prison went, and of the
-. designers in or out of prison in the State. SO
sard did ne work that he nearly ruined his eye
s,gbt. Mr. Kimbal said that he could easily earn
.o-, 5000 10 500 year. He was about being
sleased from prison few weeks ago, when he
uos rearrested by Detective Mcknight on an old
mage Of entering the fat OF Ray Lehman, at No.
80 East Eishteenth-st.. November o. 1894 and
,ss,ng $500 worth Of property. While in the Tombs
Reno wrote the following letter to Judge New
burger;
Dear sir: ! hope. Your Honor will please excuse
me Of taking the liberty OF addressing this letter 10
FRIDAY the 18th day OF December. beg Your
Honor 20 show me some mercy l have served
h hsea punished and suffered much for my crimes
cannot complain. because know l deserved y;
believe that man that has been in prison so many
lines will repent and lead an honest life For the
had day and night, learn good trade. so 10
earn good. honest living. and on the sth OF last
peehg 10 De living uos dressed taken TO- the
signed my discharge papers. turned around 10 leave
w W. an his old charge hope 20 God no man
viii ever feel as felt then l do not know whay
10 saw 10 Your Honor YOU will believe me
know I deserve my punishment, but the great
COD who can look in all Of our hearts knows am
a different man when I left that prison from what
help lead a better and honest NE and gSt en-
3 chance I bec you. sir. to give me chance on
snv condition Your Honor sees ~ 20 make. ana
syg 2Hd get sna INTO pe tou5e again then let the
severest penalty the law ais for be dealt OUT 70
me Any questions you will ask me when AN am
called before Your Honor ! shall answer VII, Win
nothing but the truth. so beg Of you sir 70 pave
and i've and die an honest man. ...,.
7 have not seen free Christmas DAY IN tNsnl!-
two wears or seen my people in that time. When
! get work and can prove 10 them ! have turned
away from crime and a crooked life would hke 70
See mem O exeue me Of this addressing this
sgmH fbJ1 Ser servant WILLIAM RENO,
huN0' Tombs City Prison.
Judge Newburger read the letter as Reno stood
,.,,~e him. The Judge was Obliged 10 stop now
and then TO choke back something in his voice
After q pause he said
. This Is a most extraordinary case. believe that
you are sincere, Reno have exaInlneu anu ~ No
teated your case and have found thst !ou n S
the last four years in prison You nave leaI ,,i
diH1c,lt and technical trade. You nave peeh pecu!-
isrlv tractable and Industrious / believe you
resiv mean 10 do the right thing. ana there is d
eoos chance for reformation What am going to
d Is not without precedent Many JUDGES nave
te.n lenent TO prisoners who have come 10 pe re-
gsrdai as habitual criminals. believing that there
was a chance Of reformation Now, If you abuse
this mercy and again
Il call God TO witness" broke IN the prisoner
lifting his hand and with tears streaming down
his face that will lead honest life II am
dealt with mercifully you need not SEND an OF
wrong will come TO you, Judge. will say 70
Won that ! cannot do right But want 10 i've anu
die an honest man. will show my people ln na
have reformed. Then will see them once more
work has been promised 10 me. Your Honor; and
7 will work hard and save money-anq-and -
Here the prisoner broke down and sopped -.
NO Years Reno said Judge Newburger, and he
iooked out OF the window. There was silence
and many sobs could be heard IN me c0u our ond
when he spoke OF his mother and boynood Gays
the prisoner sobbed like child Then ne was ois-
charged. . x,.. ~ .hoot
rim nv the hand At the doorway he was met by
Kimbar Arm in arm they left The building