The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1901-08-14
THE WARDEN'S RECRUIT
A TRUE STORY.
BY John Dickinson Sherman.
A TRUE STORY.
r N Pekin, upholding the dignity of
the Stars and Stripes, there is q
vonnp limited States marine with

tne stars anu StrlpeS, tneTe is
young United States marine with
an unusual history. The war
den Of a State penitentiary is willing
to guarantee that the young marine
will serve his country faithfully and
we'll. 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 4 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 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 q series of daring
highway robberies raised an unusual
outcry. Simmons was under suspicion,
and thought it best 20 leave Chicago.
He hung about q 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 4 safe. He was sentenced
to the penitentiary for one year.
Simmons did not make q model con-
vict At first his sole thought was to
break Jail. After two weeks Of plan
ming he assaulted guard with a file
and made a desperate effort to escape.
but was overpowered and punished by
confinement in the dungeon. When,
after a reasonable time, he was
brought back to his cell, he was far
from being subdued; he was as ugly
as a Gagged wild beast, and refused to
WorS. 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 q bad
year ahead of you. I've been watch
ing you, and l believe you have some
better traits than you have shown.
Why not try the other tack? I want
you to live up to the rules Of the prison
and behave yourself. It's 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 moGel prisoners Of
the institution. He kept his temper.
worked we'll. and was respectful and
obedient. tic attended 10 his own busi-
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 de-
cent suit and ten dollars. I suppose
you will so back to Chicago. The ten
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. 1t will
take care Of you another month, and
an that time you surely ought to get
a JOB Of some kind
But why should you lend me twcn-
ty dollars?' asked Simmons.
We'll" replied til. warden, II think
you have the making OF q very decent
man in you. I'm afraid you will be
tempted to GO back to the old gang
If yol don't get work, and l want to
give you chance. You've got six
weeks lceway, and if you do right
you can get 4 now start in that time.
And whatever you do, don't get caught
steeliIg in Indiana"
Simmons did not say much either
then OF the next day. when the ward
en- saw him or at the station. He
made no promises nj all. A few days
later came i latter that brought mill
gled grief and hope to the warden's
heart. The letter was from Chicago,
and stated boldly:
II fell in with the gang last night.
This won't 10. am going 10 get out
of here. Can't reform in Chicago
William Simmons"
For the next two weeks the warden
watched the Chicago newspapers anAi-
ousiy. That the young fellow had beeu
tempted he was sure; he dreaded lest
he had fallen. His only hope was
that Simmons had fled from tempta.
tion and had left Chicago. At the end
of the fortnight letter cane In the
familiar handwriting. The warden