The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-07-08
LONGS FOR LIBERTY
COLE YOUNGER, IN AN INTERVIEW,
TALKS OF THE POSSIBLE
PAROLE
WOULD LIKE TO SEE WORLD
After Twenty-Five Years of Prison
Life, the Story of Progress
and Invention Sounds
Like a Dream.

after twenty-five years it looks as
though there may be rift in the cloud
that has overshadowed our unfortunate
and luckless lives, and Oh, what a glor-
ious awakening this break of new day
would be-"
In this pathetic mood, with a slight
tremor in his voice. unused Cole Younger
in referring to his heartfelt hope of w at
the board of pardOns may do regardip g
the Younger brothers case, which will
be considered in st. Paul today
There IS nothing cringing or servile in
the makeup or bearing of this remarka-
BILE man, and as he addressed a G l e
reporter in the Saltwater penitent airy
yesterday afternoon one could not help
but detect facial expressions which in
dictated intellectual strength. He has the
powerful frame and the big round head
poised on strong shoulders. and ash .
from the sadness visible IN repose, his
face fairly beams with kindness.
OF the three brothers who participated
in the famous Mortified bank raid in
1876, and who We're sentenced to life i'm
prisonment. only Cole and Jim Younger
remain, Bob the youngest of the trio.
having died in the penltentiary of con-
sumption a few years ago
The Younger brothers have made model
prisoners, and during the long period Of
their Imprisonment not a single mark
Of discredt has besn charged up to them
by the prison authorities.
you see" said Cole. in conversation
with the rerO ter. 81 have been sick for
the past week or two, and with regard
to our possible parole, 1 am in such
confused frame of mind that l don't
know what to say"
Zone thing I would like to have you
print is that we desire to thank our
friends in Minnesota who have taken
such an active interest in our welfare.
Among the many hundreds to whom
we are indebted are DR.. Wheeler, Of
Mortified, who shot Jim, and who shot
at me, and who signed our petition for
a pardon; Capt, G. B. Yates. Capt. Muir
ply, now of Owatonna. and others who
assisted in our capture"
what do you think YOU will do in the
event of your parole?" asked the re-
porter
LAS to that we have no plans" he
said. In case we are let out our fate
will be in the hands of the state agent
and the warden, and we are informed by
both gentlemen that we will find plenty
of work without delay"
you will not return to Missouri or
other Southern points them queried the
reporter.
leased on parole and will have to report
regularly to the state agent until such
time as we are fully parGoned."
LONG TO SEE THE OUTSIDE.
AT this point he became reflective. say
ing what strange world it must be on
the outside 1--WE have heard of the cleo
trio cars, the new and wonderful lights
and all the other inventions of the last
quarter of a century, but I can scarcely
imagine what it is all like. Then there
are your wonderful printing presses
which get out the big papers and so
many other things that we don't really
know about"
In this connection he took delight in
calling to mind his early recoIections OF
a country editor in Missouri. who had
an old-fashioned hand press, and who
printed one side of his quarto paper on
Wednesday and tne other on Saturday,
the subscribers getting the news by
piecemeal, or on the installment plan.
OF recent years, Cole Younger has act
ed as head nurse in the prison hospital,
and for the past twelve years Jim
Younger has mad charge of the library,
a position formerly held by Cole.
The strict discipline and confinement
Of prison life has of course told on the
men, and Coles hair is white, although
sturdy frame. In conversation Cole
Younger is frank to degree, and what
he says bears the evidence of sincerity
and truth, while his brother, Jim, is more
reticent. and like a student or hermit,
he is almost entirely engrossed with his
books, and has little to say
AS indicated their prison conduct has
been most exemplary, and according to
the time they have served, had the SEN
tence been anything but life, they would
have earneu about eleven years in good
time.
The sentiment of every prison official
and guard and all who nave come in
contact with the men, is that they have
more than atoned for their crime, and
that as justice should be tempered with
mercy, the time has arrived when they
should be allowed to re-enter the world
and nave an opportunity to redeem
themselves.
The state board of pardonS, which is
composed of Gov. Van SAINT, Attorney
General Douglas and Chief Justice
Start, meets at the capitol today. when
the Youngers and their friends nope
that favorable action will be taken on
their application. The state board Of
prison managers, at it's last meeting, rec
commended to the board of pardons that
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