The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-04-23
Gen. Woods Friends Record In tho
Convict Camp.

Gen. Woods Friends Record In tho
Convict Camp.
A good word for Capt. EDGAR GERALD
BELIAIRs, from one who knows him well,
reached US yesterday in letter dated
at Monticello, Florida, on April 20. Tho
writer is, or was, the sole lessee Of the
| convicts hired out by the State Peniten-
tiary and employed in chain gangs to
work the handbook phosphate mines at
Ichetucknee in Columbia county.
The opinion which Mr.. BAILEY formed
Of the convict CHEIRrToN, or SHERIDAN,
or SHERRY as BELIAIRs was known to
his fellow prisoners, IL manifest in what
the contractor-boss Of convict labor now
writes us concerning him:
Il regret exceedingly to see BxILAIRs bounded.
simply because he was q convict. He paid the full
penalty for his offence In this STATE and during the
whole nve years was directly under me- He was
never punished but once. and. believe. unjustly:
he was accused by another convict Of attempt 70
escape.
Il met him in New York last September and
recognized him on Broadway. He Wa very glad
to sec me. told mo his experience. and made me
presents. certainly appreciated his showing
gratitude. for treated him kindly and requested
the Governor 70 pardon him.
He v . very bright man and sent me his book
about last December, a. 1t L. In the Philippines
He V held In high esteem By Gen. cHAYynn and was
given . farewell dinner BY the Army and Navy
Club ct Manila on July q 1907: also highly tndovd
oy Gen. woop a. great friend Of the army In Cuba,
IN Letter 10 the Prestdsnf.
Now. think he deserves well and I believe
you win defend him unless his attacks on Gen.
BROOKE and Governor TAT are unfounded. II
they are. they are Of course readily disproved.
Il feel kindly toward ell -convicts and want to
them do well. OF course they especially should
not say anything unjust. and especially deserve
censurs II they do. Yours truly
e. D. Ballet.
We think nobody can read the above
lines without warm feeling for the ex-
cellent man who wrote them. Even in
the necessarily harsh intercourse and
amid the sympathy-killing surroundings
Of the convict camp Mr.. BAILEY dis
covered in CHEIRIToN some Of the quail
ties Of mind and manner which have
been misused by that accomplished
swindler to enable him to continue under
many names and in many parts Of the
globe his almost unparalleled criminal
career. Mr.. BAILEY befriended CHKIRI-
ToN-BELLAIRs and did what he could to
ease his lot in the phosphate mines. He
helped to get him pardoned after five
years Of the chain and ball. When Mr..
BAILEY met and recognized BELLAIRs
last autumn in Broadway he was glad
that his bright convict was doing so
we'll in the world.
or course, BRLLAIRs did not attempt
uselessly to deny his identity with CHEIR-
IToN or SHERRY He met the convict
contractor frankly, told him OF his life
since the days OF his last imprisonment,
Of his social success in high army circles,
of his travels, OF his essay in authorship,
Of Gen. LEONARD WOODS friendship for
him, and OF that officers enthusiastic
Endorsement OF him In q letter to Presi- |
dent ROOSEVELT.
Mr.. BAILEY was sincerely glad to hear |
all this. He was glad to get in December |
q copy Of BELLAIRs's book. And now,
thinking OF the ex-convict solely as a |
wrongdoer who had expiated a single |
offence by a long period Of hard labor
and good behavior In the phosphate |
mines, under his own personal observa-
ton, and who had since then lived in |
manner to obtain the friendship and ap-
proval Of a man like LEONARD WooD,
Mr.. BAILEY utters most creditable ap-
peal against the harshness that would
crush the beginnings OF a respectable
and perhaps useful new life.
Heaven forbid that any reclaimed
unfortunate should be trampled back
into the mire! Mr.. BAILEY is right as far
as his knowledge goes. What he does
not know, or, at least, does not consider,
is that BELLAIRs Is no single-ofYenoe
offender, TO be encouraged and helped
back to the paths of rectitude. but a
persistent, heartless deceiver
and enemy Of society. whose long series
Of criminal operations in new quarters
and under new circumstances have
proved him to be az irreclaimable as he is
When Mr. BALLET learns or remem-
bers this he will take slightly different
view Of the proper treatment Of BEL
LARS. When last heard from in Arizona
hat impudent swindler was not frankly
as he did to Mr.. BAILEY
asst September in Broadway. the identity
Of the convict-camp 'SHIRRY with