The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-10-15
BLACKSMITH DOVER, CONVICT AT SPEIGNERS,
 KEEPS FAITH WITH GOVERNOR OF ALABAMA

There was but one condition placed upon Dower's thirty days parole. He was required only to give his word that he would return. There was no bond. Dover was not a ticket of leave man, un- der the necessity of reporting to some off, ficial at stated times At no time was he under any sort of espionage.
 Neither the Governor nor any official of the Convict Department had heard one word from the paroled conv.ct since hs left the penitentiary as Speigners. His parole expired last night. No assurance had been received that he would return.
 Judge J. M Carmichael, Presii tent of the State Board of Convict Inspectors was standing upon the veranda of the Capitol yesterday morning. A young man well dressed and of good appearance, mounted the steps, saying:
 How are you, Judge? You don't know me?" he asked.
 Your face is familiar to me. but I can't recall you at this moment" said Judgs Carmichael.
 CT, you know, who was allowed to go to his sick child. Have just come from Mo- bile and I am on my way to Speigner's. Before go want to see the Governor and thank him for his kindness" The face of the young man glowed with gratitude.
 The President of the Convict Boar q shook the hand of the convict and led him to the private office of Governor Jelks where he voiced his thanks and gratitude as best he could for the rare and un-
 In his voluntary return to his stripes and coSvict's cell, Dower confirmed the statements of those who had interested themselves in securing hfs parole. It had been represented that Dover was a good citizen, a respectable man except W. en he was under the influence of whiskey. When he was sober, it was said. he was c kind husband and a devoted father Whiske.y, 1t was shown, was responsible for his misfortunes
 Under its influence, he had struck his wife. Th's happened in Escambia Coun- ty. He was tried for the offense of as- sault with intent to murder. convicted and sentenced to twenty years imprison- ment. He waS serving this sentence at Speigner's. where he was put to work in the blacksmith shop. He was a model convict and good workman.
 When he had served one year of his long sentence his child was taken desperately i'll. The mother took the child to Mobile for better medical attention. The phy- sicians there shook their heads and told
 
 die.
 She wrote the Governor imploring him to allow her convict husband to come to the bedside of their dying child. She interested good men in her misfortunes and they joined their entreaties with hers to the Governor to grant the unparalled favor.
 The case touched the sympathies of the Governor. With no other assurance of h hta h,,% hn leased the convict for thirty days. It was the only time in the history of the State that such action had been taken.
 Dower's child did not die. Her life being in the balance for several days. but she slowly recovered, and all the while her father was at her bedside. For thirty days the convict enjoyed the sweets of liberty. For a month he was as other men. Clothed as his fellows he walked among them and enjoyed an equal freedom with them.
 And this thirty days of liberty was none the less sweet that it was passed in the fresh recollections of the disgrace, the hardships, the onerous burdens of a con- vict's life. Its sweetness was tempered by the prospects of nineteen years of servitude, nineteen years between prison walls, nineteen years of expiatory labor There may have been periods of strong tS"ptaeaoh' "hol the thouBnt OL nlSnt must have appealed almost irresistibly to the furloughed convict. There was noth- ing to prevent 1t. If Dover the convict, was beset by such temptations he over came them and put them behind him. Dower, the convict left Montgomery on the afternoon train for Speigners. He arrived at the penltentiary last night with several hours of the thirty days remain ing
 He laid aside the neat business suit in which he had taken his place among his fellows for his brief period of liberty and in its stead he donned the felon's stripes. He slept last night in his old cell and today clothed in stripes he will take his place at the penitentiary forge
 He has kept faith with the Governor