The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1901-07-12
TOLD THEY ARE FREE.
The YOungers, However, Will Probably
Not Leave the Prison for Week.

Saltwater, July II. Yesterday was
a great day for the Youngers. For
nearly twenty-five years they have
been hoping that the day would come
when they would be liberated from the
prison, and at last that day has come
The news of the action of the par
doning board was received by them
with smiles, but any casual acquaint-
ance seeing them would not have
thought anything out of the ordinary
had happened to them. Cole seemed
to be the most affected of the two, but
for one in his circumstances he APP
peared unusually cool. Newspaper
men were permitted to see them yes
terday afternoon, and to all of them
they said:
1--WE have heard the news, and have
nothing to say further than that a
heavy load has been lifted from our
shoulders, and there is great satisfac-
tion..in knowing we are to be able to
mingle with fellow human beings out
side.
1--WE are grateful to everybody for
every kindness shown us, and those
who have stood by us, either now or
at any previous time, will never have
cause to regret anything they may
have done for us.
1--WE do not know when we are to be
liberated, but Warden Wolfer and State
Agent Whittier will probably deter
mine this, and when they tell us to don
our citizens clothes, we will be ready
to obey.
"What satisfaction there is in know
ing that we are once more to breathe
the air of freedom on the outside
You can realize what this means,
and only people who have been bar
red from the rest of humanity for a
quarter of century can realize the
enormity of the thing.
please tell everybody that we cher
ish their good deeds in our behalf,
and also publish. to the world that we
bear no i'll will against any one. We
have no enemies so far as we know,
and want everybody to be our friends. -
Warden Wolfer was not at home
when the notice of the boards action
was received, but when he arrived,
newspaper reporters were on hand to
ascertain when the men would be
liberated. In answer to their queries
Mr.. Wolfer said:
81 don't know, neither would I tell
you if did, for we have decided that
the boys are to go away from here
without demonstrations of any kind,
and the only way this can be done is
to let no one know when they are 60
ing.
They will not go tonight, and
neither will they go this week. We
have received number of applications
from parties who are anxious to give
them employment, and we will first
determine the one we will accept.
This means that they are to be re-
leased from prison secretly, inasmuch
as it is the desire of the board of par
dons and the board of prison man
ayers that they be kept as quiet as pos
sible when they do go.
The Youngers last night were like
children. They look forward to mar
velous changes on the outside and
neither expects to be disappointed.
Cole says he feels like 10-year- old
boy and Jim says the same.
The action of the pardoning board
was popular with the people of Still
water, there being few residents of
Saltwater who would not gladly do
anything in their power to accomplish
the release of the Youngers.
P. G. Deming of Minneapolis, au thor
of the parole bill under which the
Youngers were released, was caller
at the prison last night.