Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1901-12-09
THE WARDEN'S RECRUIT
A TRUE STORY.
BY John Dickinson Sherman.
'sssSSSS : 80 , 3 3 3 - 3 . 3 .
N Pekin, upholdlng the dignity of
A TRUE STORY.

~ ehiL, uplOIuluS lue ulSully VI
the Stars and Stripes, there is
young United States marine with
q an unusual history. The war
den of State pententiary is willing
to guarantee that the young marine
will serve his country faithfully and
well. William Simmons is not the
marines name, but so we may call
him; and this is his story-the true
story Of the value of kind word:
Simmons's boyhood was passed in
the slum districts of the West Side of
Chicago. His companions were ruff
fans and thieves, and in time he be-
came the leader of a gang, and bold
and reckless criminal. His history
during his young manhood is written
in the blotters of the West Side sta
tions and in the records of the Grim
inal court.
Two years ago series Of daring
highway robberies raised an unusual
outcry. Simnons was under suspicion,
and thought it best 20 leave Chicago.
He hung about town in Indiana for
several weeks. Then the safe of a
storekeeper was blown open one night
and several hundred dollars taken. A
week or two later Simmons was
caught at Fort Wayne in the very act
Of opening a safe. He was sentenced
to the penitentiary for one year.
Simmons did not make model con-
vict. At first his sole thought was to
break jail. After two weeks of plan
ming he assaulted a guard with file
and made desperate effort to escape,
but was overpowered and punished by
confinement in the dungeon. When,
after q reasonable time, he was
brought back to his cell, he was far
from being subdued; he was as ugly
rs Il Gagged wild beast, and refused to
work. Back he went to the dungeon.
In the meantime the warden had
kept an observant eye on the young
convict, had seen that he was intelli-
gent, and resolved to appeal to his
reason. After Simmons had been long
enough in the dungeon to quiet down,
the warden went to him and said:
Now see here, young man, you are
gaining nothing by acting like this.
You are no fool, and you can reason
the situation out for yourself. You've
no chance at all along your present
line. If you are ugly, you've got bad
year ahead of you. I've been watch
ing you, and believe you have some
better traits than you have shown.
Why not try the other tack? 1 want
you to live up to the rules of the prison
and behave yourself. It's a much easi-
er proposition than the one you've
mapped out. You turn over new leaf
and the guards will treat you well.
What do you say"
Simmons finally agreed to give the
warden's plan trial. Before long he
became one of the model prisoners of
| the institution. He kept his temper,
worked well, and was respectful and
obedient. He attended to his own bust
ness strictly, and made no attempt to
curry favor with the officials.
When it came time for Simmons to
leave the prison, the warden had him
brought into his private office.
"William," said he, your time will
be up tomorrow. You will get a de-
cent suit and ten dollars. l suppose
you will go back to Chicago. The tea
dollars ought to keep you two weeks,
and in that time you may get some
thing to do. Now here's twenty dol
lars more; it's personal loan. IL will
take care of you another month, and
in that time you surely ought to get
job of some kind"
But why should you lend me twen-
ty dollars:" asked Simmons.
WELL" replied the warden, "I think
you have the making of very decent
man in you. I'm afraid you will be
tempted to go back to the old gang
If you don't get work, and want to
give you a chance. You've got six
weeks leeway, and if you do right
you can get a new start in that time.
And whatever you do, don't get caught
stealing in Indiana"
Simmons did not say much either
then or the LeXt day, when the ward
en- saw him. off at the station. He
made no promises at all A few days
later came letter that brought min