The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-12-15
TALE OF A HANDKERCHIEF
FORMER WARDEN SHIDELER'S
STORY OF A PRISON INMATE.
Soft Spot i'm Convict's Heart Reached
by Act of Kindness-Part OF
the Warden's Philosophy.


WASHINGTON, Dec 14-If former War
den Shideler would take his wife's advice
he should write book and call 1t Some
Prisoners 1 Have Known" During the
stay of the Shidelers in Washington last
week some interesting stories were drawn
from Mr.. Shideier by his friends. who
know how entertainingly he relates tales
of prison life. Shideler was in love with
his work at Indiana's state prison, and he
made it point to get as close to the men
in convict garb as possible. He proceeded
on the theory that no man is so hardened
that his heart cannot be reached. finally,
by human kindness. "I would rather be
warden of an Indiana prison. if 1 could
work out my own ideas and theories" said
Shideler the other day. than to hold any
| other position of power trust of which
| / know"
TELL the story of the white handker-
Chief said Mrs Shideler, as they sat with
party of friends In the office of the Will
| lard Hotel. The orchestra was playing.
and while the sweet strains fell on the ears
of a gayly- dressed crowd of men and wom-
en-, each group bent on its own diversions,
heart of Jack Norton, burglar. thief and
bank robber, was touched.
When Shideler was warden of the Indiana
| prison 1t was his custom to have new
man brought into the Office for a short in
| terview, the warden believing it was well
to begin to study the new inmate from the
start. A few days after Norton arrived
he was summoned to the office and came in
company with a guard. He was given a
chair and the guard withdrew. The war
den wheeled about from his desk and con-
fronted the new MANTLE first he had
| seen Of him. The warden held a card in
his hand which he slowly read aloud
lack Norton. alias somebody else. burg
| lar, bank robber and all-around crook
Norton, / have sent for you to talk to
you about yourself and about this insti-
tuition" said the warden. You are here
| under my charge and my disposition is to
| help you-to at least send you away from
here no worse than you came. Are you
willing to help me help you?" The warden
| looked the new man straight in the face
and waited Norton sat rigid in his chair
| with folded arms. His countenance was
stern, his jaws set in a firm look of de-
the warden and out across the prison yard.
He spoke not word. and the warden
"Of course" the latter at length con-
| tinued, talking as much to himself as to
| the prisoner, 81 can't tell how you look at
| the proposition you are up against. Neither
can L judge, Jack Norton, what influence
has worked in your life to bring you here.
But you are here and the thing now is to
| find out what you want to do about it
that Is, what you think your conduct
should be here. If you are willing to do
| what is required here I'll help you, Norton
I want to help you"
THE face of the man was absolutely un-
| relenting, Shideler remarked to those
| who listened to him. II never saw coun-
tenance that was so absolutely immova-
BILE. But wasn't discouraged. because 1
felt that behind that iron mask there was
something somewhere that would some
time respond to kindness"
| Shideler then went on to relate how he
and the prisoner sat there several moments
| without word. Finally the warden spoke
again 1t may be" said he. again talking
as If to himself, that there's been a shock
in your life-perhaps a woman has caused
! 1t. l can't sit in Judgment on you because
don't know what the pathway that
your young feet trod. can only speak for
myself about those things. You are thirty
eight years old, you say. Just my age.
Who knows what 1 might have been had
You had mother, Norton, you may have
one yet. You have women folks who are
interested in you somewhere no doubt.
isn't there somewhere something that you
can recall that will warm that heart of
yours? Now, what's been the trouble. my
The warden noticed that he had his man
going" to use the talk of the street. by
the time he concluded In fact. in the
midst of the last speech the convict seemed
to start as If hidden spring had been
touched somewhere that had given him an
electric shock. The warden saw In his
eyes something that told him that Norton
was breaking down. Reaching into his
pocket he drew forth white handkerchief
and, throwing 1T across Norton's lap said
to him, Cry, my man; take a good one;
it's just what you need"
An instant later Jack Norton. burglar
tnier and bank robber, was sobbing as IL
his heart were breaking. When he had
quieted down the warden called the guard
you may take Norton back" said he when
the blue-coated employe appeared The
prisoner got ND and started to follow the
guard. He hesitated and he still held the
wardens white handkerchief in his hand
The warden felt sure that he would sneak
What he said was. very simple little sen
tence. 1t was, warden, would you mind
If L kept this handkerchief The war
aen granted the request and Norton went
to his cell. No prisoner in the institution
gave less trouble than Norton. and the
warden almost forgot him. One day few
weeks later he was passing through one
| OF the cellhouses and recognized Norton
standing at the door of one of the cells
Good morning. Norton" said the warden
pleasantly. stopping In front OF the cell
/ want to congratulate you"
THANK you, SIR. said Norton and then
stepping TO shelf In his cell he took down
small book and opened it about the mid
die. There between the leaves was a white
handkerchief. He took IL out almost rev
erently and held ii up. That" said he
softly so that no one bu the warden heard
him, that is my inspiration"
AS the ex-warden finished the orchestra
struck up Nancy Brown" and the clat-
ter or wine glasses came from the cafe at
was Norton's white badge of courage.
wasn't it?" said Mrs Shideler LAYING her
hand in that OF her husband C. A G
New England Hides Barred.