The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1901-08-15

the Stars aud Stripes, there is a
young United States marine with
an unusual history. The war.
den Of State penltcntiary 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 a 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 blottcrs of the West Side sta
tions and in the records of the Grim
inal court.
Two years ago n series of daring
highway robberies raised an unusual
0utcry. SimLons was under suspicion,
and thought it best % leave Chicago.
He hung about IL 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 safe. He was sentenced
to the penitentiary for one year.
Simmons did not make model con
vlct. At first his sole thought was to
break Jail. After two weeks of plan
ming he assaulted u guard with o file
and made desperate effort to escape,
but was overpowered and punished by
confinement in the dungeon. When,
after n reasonable time, he was
brought back to his cell, lie was far
from being subdued; he was as ugly
as 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 20 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 a 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? l want
you to live UP to the rules of the prison
and behave yourself. It's much easl-
er proposition than the one you've
mapped out. You turn over new leaf
and the guards viii treat you we'll
What do you say"
Simmons finally agreed to give the
warden's plan tiial. Before long he
became one of the model prisoners OF
the Institution. He kept his temper,
worked well. and was respectful and
obedlent. tie attended TO his own busl-
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 AM ten dollars. suppose
you win 90 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, IL will
take care of you another month, and
In that tire you surely ought to get
n Job of soua kind"
"isut why should you lend me TWEEN
ty doilars?" asked Simmons
Well" replied tn, warden. 81 think
you have the making of a very decent
man In you. I'm afraid you will be
tempted to 30 back to the old gang
you don't get work. and want to
give You chance. You've got SIX
weeks lceway, and II you do right
you can get new start In that time
ana whatever you do. don't get caught
stealing In Indiana"
Simmons did not say much either
then or the next day, when the ward
en- saw him off at the station. He
mace no promises at ALL A few days
iaipr came letter that brought min
sied gsief and hope to the warden'i
heart. The letter was from Chicago
and stated boldly;
- Tell In with the gang last night
Ihis wont do. | am going to get ou
OK here Can't reform in Chicago
William simmons"
ror 'hc next two weeks the wnrdel
wn,cneu The Chicago newspapers anxl
ous's. That the young follow had beef
tempted he was shrc; he dreaded lep
ne nan fal'en' His only hope wa
tnat simmons had fed from tampta
uou and had left Chicago. Al The en-,
81 ne fortnight letter came ID th
3am'iAr handwtItIng Tho wnrde'