Evening journal., 1902-08-23
JUDGE IMPOSED
novel PENALTY
Sentenced TO Teach Fellow
Prisoner to Read and
Write

Write
Along in the seventies the late Judge
Arnold Krekel was holding court ut
jefferson City. relates an old timer.
when there appeared before him two
men charged and Indicted for viola
tion of the United States laws. one of
whom will be called Brown He was
charged with cutting timber on the
public domain. Brown was about 40
years old and had been reared on the
border in Arkansas and never had any
opportunities for schooling, hence was
unable TO read or write. In his en-
deavors to get living he had cut tim
Der suitable for making ak handles on
United States lands, which led to his
arrest and Imprisonment The other
man will be called Jones, for the real
name 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 n native of New York,
graduate Of Union college and was
educated for a lawyer. He possessed
n highly cultured mind, good Latin
lst and thoroughly scholarly in all
sorts Of books. 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 no
body knew where, but he drifted into
the lower strata of society, and to OBJ
tain the necessarles of life he resorted
to "bootlegglng" among the red men
Of the Indian Territory border His
arrest and Imprisonment followed.
The two men were arraigned before
Judge Krekel and the indictments
read. They both pleaded guilty and
threw themselves upon the mercy OF
the court. The court questioned Botl
prisoners at length and drew from
each his history. He recounted the
wrongs they had been guilty of against
society. He did this in a kindly tone
and manner. suggesting In a mild form
that both might have been useful mem
bers of some community had they
sought honorable means and method:
to secure a livelihood.
The court seemed puzzled how to as
sess a punishment that would meet th,
ends Of justice and protect the govern
ment, its lands, its wards and society
Finally, sitting upright in his chair
looking over his glasses as both mel
stood before him, in a voice little loud
er and more positive than usual h'
said:
"Alr. Brown, It is the sentence of th'
court that you be confined in the Coli
county jail until you are educated t
read and write" The Judge then turn
ed his eyes upon the other prisoner a
the bar and. possibly in a louder voice
said. "Mr. Jones, 1t is the sentence o
, the court that you be confined In thl
Cole county Jail until you have taugh
Mr.. Brown to read and write, and
enjoin upon the keeper of the jail Il
/ afford you every facility possible witt
the safe keeping of his prisoners"
4 The lawyers and spectators in cour
} looked with astonishment at each 9th
}. er as the sentence was concluded. an,
4 the marshal led the prisoners out o
e the courtroom.
1t was the second term Of the cour
- after this incident when the marsha
conducted Brown and Jones into court
and it was announced by the cour
that Brown had completed bis eduea
tion-ready to graduate-able to reai
and write. Judge Krekel looked owe
his glasses and asked that the prisone
= give him an evidence of bis being abb
to read. Brown stood up and read
= few paragraphs from a newspaper I
the satisfaction Of the court, when h
said, "Mr. Clerk. will you let him 81
D at a table and write me letterY
Paper, pen, ink and a seat were ful
nished Brown. who went to work I
5 write a letter to the court. For som
D time the poor fellow struggled wit
the task. and In the meantime JOne
3, was very nervous. fearing he woul
>, be compelled TO go back TO jail an
e take up school, again. Finally th
l. clerk said. May it please your honol
b the prisoner can write, but cannot forI
p sentences to make 1t Ineligible"
= MIR. Clerk" said the court. not tai
u ing his eyes from the court docket
: was looking at you will dictate a le
= ter for him and see what heac way
makes with that" The clerk dictated
l. letter that the prisoner wrote quit
l. readily. which subsequently was pas
L ed up to the court. who read the sam
: and after giving the prisoners a shoi
lecture both were discharged an
walked from the courtroom free mel
= jefferson City Tribune.
Fish That Change Color.