The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-04-18
ENOUGH OF THE BANDIT LIFE.
Young Wilson VIII BE Good When
He Gets Out of Prison.

NEW YORK, April IS.-By hard study
and reading the best literature Kid
Wilson known as the Boy Bandit
who received a twenty-foUr-year SEN
tcnce to the Kings County Penltentiary
for train robbery, hopes when his prom
ised freedom comes TO be able to com
pete with young men who have never
! been in prison.
President Mckinley has commuted his
! sentence TO ten years Imprisonment, and
on November q, 1903, Wilson Will be lib
Grated. He is now only twentyrfour years
of age, yet he caused terror all through
the West when only sixteen years Of age
When sheriffs went after him they were
} accompanied by a strong posse Since
he began his imprisonment he has de-
I vcloped remarkable desire for kHowl-
edge. He is the most intellectual prison
er il the peniteutiary.
No" ! do not read cheap OF trashy
books" said Wilson to a reporter
Il keep up with current events by
reading the best magazines 7 know
enough Of crime without having TO 90 TO
books for it
At sixteen years Of age Wilson lived
in White county, Arkansas His family
WAS one of the best in that section, but
he was the black sheep and became wild.
His brothers are reputable business men
Born and reared in a country where the
exploits Of the James boys and the Dal-
ton gang were matters Of daily talk,
young Wilson and some Wild companions,
II is said conceived the idea Of holding
up the Overland Express frcm Fort Smith
which vas supposed to be loaded with
money
With five others Wilson attempted the
Wilson could obtain no other weapon
than a glass whiskey bottle moulded in
the shape of a pistol With this he went
through the train collecting from the pas
SengcTS.
i was doing a good business, declared
! Wilson and the people We're Smelling out
in great shape Suddenly we heard shoot
/ ing and yelling outside and found shcr-
III s posse was after US.
The gang was driven into a swamp,
where three members were Killed. An
other was hanged and Wilson and Cha
ney were sent 70 prison because Of their
! youthfulness. Clancy is now serving a
I life sentence
| During the long evenings Of eight
years in prison Wilson has devoted his
time 70 improving his mind At first he
was suTly and n3rTose, but when told by
older prisoners that this would make ms
! term seem Goubiy long. he decided 70 try
/ to better himself. IN this he was assisted
/ BIZ the warden. He vas furnished with
I books and magazines, and they have been
/ his companions since. Because Of his tX-
ccpticnaIIy good conduct ne has been
? given liberties which other prisoners do
not receive.
! when ] get out Of here" said Wilson,
! L am going to stay in the East. There
/ Is not much in the way OF temptation here
and III get a job and keep steady The
tact that / have been in prison may BE-
he'd against me- but let me g4V that any
: man who has be5n hefe as long as 1 have
/ viii thing a long time before he does
anything that IS likely to send him back
Warden Hayes said that Wilson is his
model prisoner.
When he leaves the prison. declared
IN warden he viii lee able to compete
/ with many a young nan vino has failed
I to- make the best use Of his time, al
though allowed perfect freedom