The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-10-12
Her BOY A CONVICT
Southern Woman Secured His Re-
lease in Iowa and Took
Him Home.
How Governor Packard of Recon-
struction-Day Fame Was y
Able to Help Her.
Special to The Journal.

MarshalltoWn, Iowa, Oct. 12.-S. B.
Packard, of this city, who was governor
or Louisiana In the reconstruction period
following the war; is central figure in
one of the most Interesting episodes that
has ever come to light thru the granting
OF a pardon by the governor at Des
Moines. Thru a friendship formed in
those trying days he was recently able to
come to the aid of a worthy woman of the
south ana secure the release of her way,
ward son from convict's CELL
Two months ago a refined and well
dressed woman went to the penitentiary
at@Fort Madison and asked the warden for
permission: to interview one J. W. Sand
ers, a convict Of IS, confined in the prison.
Her request was granted and for the first
t1me IN SIX years she stood face to face
with her son. 1t was a sad moment for
BOTH. The woman was of fine southern
1antly. Inc son had suddenly disap-
peared While attending the high school in
his home town six years ago, since which
time the family had spent nearly all its
fortune trying to locate him. Every
means had been exhausted and the search
was ABOUT to be, given up. w. =
Found Good Clue
One day a detective in the Pinkerton
office in Chicago scanned the portraits
OF the men in the Fort Madison prison
and thought he detected the face Of the
lost boy. Investigation showed he was
right and the mother was informed of the
TACT She then came north and set about
to- secure the release of her boy. She was
fortunate In having enjoyed the confidence
and esteem of Mr.. Packard when he was
governor Of Louisiana. She recalled that
Governor Packard is a resident Of Mar
shalltoWn, and came here to see him and
found him ready to assist her in every
legitimate way.
The history of the crime indicated that
young Sanders was little If any to blame
He was caught, with two others, in DOS
session of silks that had been stolen from
a store at Atlantic, Iowa, and was sent
! up for three years. The evidence tended
| to show Sanders was guilty of little more
| than being in bad company. He was a
model prisoner and Warden Jones recon
mended him for clemency. The trial judge
signed petition for his release and finally
after weeks Of unremitting effort on the
| part of the woman the case got thru the
pardon clerks office and Governor Cum
minis signed Sanders parole. ...,>-
Mrs. Sanders-hery true name is con
cealed Of her prominence at he
home, has completely changed he
view Of the character Of tn
people of Iowa. She had ;
southern woman's notion of the resident
of the north, but said she had discoveret
that Iowars have hearts that may b.
touched by a mothers love. 49,
College Man Takes Pulpit.
Rev. Mr.. Pilot of Pen College, has bee,
rendered a call by the Friends church O
this city and will accept '''.s-... :. -..'s'r
| = Mrs. II. J. Howe who was recent,
elected president of the State Library as
ISOLATION, has resigned her position a
one of the trustees Of the public librar
here. This is,the fourth trustee to resig
since the recent difficulty over the posi-
ton of assistant librarian. 49,
The socialists of Marshall county l1av
nominated a county ticket, with Dr. A. f
Van Sickle as a candidate for senator