Omaha daily bee., 1902-11-29
SMOOTH TRICK FOR PARDON
City Prisoner at County Jail Attempts to
work" Mayor MOOres,
SEEKS cLEMENcY ON THANKSGIVING DAY
but Telephone Message DiscIOses
Fact that Sick wife
f. Only q Myth.

William Cook uses beautiful language,
strong drink, evasive methods and his
lachrymal glands with equal readiness
and eelat. In fact, William is a versatile
gentleman whom It is profitable to meet
and subsequently to keep an eye on. He
sells encyclopedias.
For some days William has been in the
county Jail trying to get back to where
he was before he forgot the bartender's
name. He went to the bastile at the
urgent solicitation Of one Louis Berka,
police magistrate. who invited him to stay
fifteen days. Time has dragged for Will
liam. The congIomeration Of Heterogeneous
elements has pslled upon his sensitive or
ganism and his nature is in revolt against
longer association with them. He appre-
ciates how impossible is the PRONUNCIATION
Of an involuntary fraternizing by the mere
encouraging OF a relation OF juxtaposition
and he determined upon the employment
Of some expedient which should accomplish
the severance Of the CALLING bands of
restraint. Or, in other words, he didn't
like the crowd and made up his mind TO
got out.
Has 70 Plead Something.
Years ago the legislative body of the
commonwealth Of Nebraska sanctioned and
placed upon the statutes a command that
no Jail prisoner should send to the outer
world a Communication not previously In
spected and approved by the custodian OF
the establishment. William Cook pleads
4 ignorance of the existence of such stipula-
ton. William has to plead something, be-
cause he resorted to the expedient the
other day and has gotten into trouble.
Among the callers at the Jail is a young
woman who is there to teach and to be
taught. William gave her her first lesson.
As she stood at his cell door tears came
to his eyes; not just one or two little,
sparkling drops, but a torrent Of good,
adult tears that appeared as the waste
water from a grief-drowned soul and that
moved the girl to pity. She wanted to
know what she could do to make his sad
heart happier and this modern Job Trotter
finally consented to tell her that he had a
note he wished delivered to Mayor Moores.
The girl delivered 1t.
Prisoners Clever Letter.
The note follows:
Hon Frank Moores, Mayor of Omaha:
Esteemed Executive-The curse of an In
herited and Unsuitable thirst has caused
sary institution. l have no desire to COM
plain of that which Is the reward of my
9wn inGiscreti0p u nor n to seek evasion : S6Ird OF
But, sir, my wife is dying at our home in
Plattsmouth and our little daughter Is the
I have been able to ascertain, between the
calls of our physician. For me TO remain
through the seven remaining days OF my
the opportunity of a last word with the
only one who has had the charity and the
years Of my descent. 1 pray. the exercise
on your part of that executive clemency
which which MAY May enable sann6 me x 70 see m msT 9 : nSse she she
write. Truly, COOK.
Thanksgiving morning found the mayor
in a charitable mood. 1t also found him
reading and re-reading William Cooks let
ter. Under the circumstances he eonsid-
cred that a pardon and mileage to Platts-
mouth was the very least any mayor could
give on a day of thanksgiving. But to
make certain OF his premises he telephoned
to the Jail for further information concern
ing MIR. Cook and for latest advices from
Mrs. Cook-and that's what undid William.
JaiIer Flynn Takes n Hand.
Jailer Flynn, knowing William to be a
bachelor, called the latter to his bosom
and they had a heart to heart talk, in which
William denied writing the letter, but
eventually. when confronted by a fellow
prisoner who had acted as amanuensis, con-
fessed to debating It. He was promptly as
signed to the dingiest corner Of the dingiest
department, and as he was leaving the
jailer asked:
what did you want to try a trick like
that for?"
For the same reason that the burglar
went to the jewelry store" was the instant
and suave answer
"And what was that?"
T gain time said William Cook, with
that ready smile which is another feature
Of the versatility of this exceedingly versa
tile gentleman.