The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1901-04-25

other man will be called Jones, for
the real names of both men are not
known in the memory of any one who
! witnessed the incident.
Jones was charged with and indicted
for having sold liquor to the Indians
Mr. Jones was a native of New York,
a graduate of Union college and was
educated for a lawyer. He possessed
a highly cultured mind--a good Latin
list and thoroughly scholarly in al
sorts of hooks. Not succeeding in his
profession in his native state, more
from lack of application than other
wise, he left that country and plunged
into the great west and located nobody
knew where but he drifted into the
lower strata of society, and to obtain
the necessities of life he resorted to
"bootlegging'' among the red men of
the Indian territory border His ar
rest and imprisonment followed. Tho
two men were arraiGned before Judge
Krekcl and the indictments read. They
both plead guilty and threw themselves
, upon the mercy of the court. The court
questioned both prisoners at length
and drew from each their history. He
| rccUllnted the wrongs they had been
guilty of against society. He did this
in a kindly tCne and manner, suggest.
ing in a, mild form that both might
have been useful members of some
community had they sought honorable
means and methods to secure II liveli-
hood.
The court seemed puzzled how I"
assess Il punishment that would meet
the ends of justice, protect the gov
eminent. it's lands, its wards and So
ciety. Finally. sitting upright in his
chair. looking over his glasses, as both
men stood before him. in ii voice little
louder and more positive than usual
he said. MIR. Brown it is the SEN
tencc of the court that you be con-
fined in the cole county Jail until you
are educated tn read ana WRITE The
judge then turned his eyes upon the
prisoner at the bar and. possibly in II
louder voice, said MIR. Jones, 1t is
the sentence of the court that you be
confined in the Cole county Jail until
you have taught Mr.. Brown to rca-
and write, and enjoin the keeper oi
the Jail to afford you every facility
possible with the safe-keeping of his
prisoners The lawyers and specta-
tors in court looked with astonishmcr'
at each other as the sentence was con-
cluded, and the marshal led the pr.so'
ners out of the court room.
1t was the second term Of the court
after this incident When the marshal
conducted Brown and Jones Int"
court. and it was announced by the
court that Brown had complete1 bis
cducation--rcady To graduate-a5le t.
read and write. Judge Krekel looke|
over his glasses and asked that ;Er
prisoner give him an evidence of his
being able to read. Brown stood III
and read u few paragraphs from
newspaper 10 the satisfaction Of the
court, when he said: : Mr.. Clerk, win
YOU let him sit at n table and write mC
"A letter. Paper, pen, ink and a seat
were furnished Brown, who went 10
work to write u letter TO the court.
For some time The poor fellow strug'
aicd with the task, and III the Elcan
time Jones was very nervous fearing ne
would be compelled to go back to jail
and take up school agail Tirallv
the clerk said Ma i. please your
honor, the prisoner can write, but can
not form sentences to make ii intellisl-
BILE" Mr.. Clerk" said the court, not
taking his eyes from the court docket
he was looking at, 'you viii dictate "A
letter for him and sec what Roadway
he makes with that" The clerk die
tated a letter thar the prisoner wrote
quite readily. which subsequently was
passed up To the court, who read tho
same, and after giving the prisoners
a short lecture both were discharge
and walked from the court room frei
man