Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1903-01-19
WAS PRISON FRIEND
Frank A. Head, of Usage, Rewarded by
S. r. Dawson for Kindness Shown
While Latter Was Serving Term for
Murder at Anamosa.


Iowa City, Jan. 19.-Trank A. Heald
of Usage, a senior in the law depart
ment of the state university, has re-
Gently received flattering offer from
S. r. Dawson, the ex-convict who pos
sesses the wonderful : Damascus steel
formula which has been attracting the
attention of eastern capitalists for the
past ten or twelve years. S. r. Dawson
invented the formula, and a company
has recently been organized with a cap-
,italization of S2,500,000, the controlling
interest being in the hands of the In
ventor.
1t will be remembered that Dawson
was sent to the penitentiary about six
years ago, for having killed man who
had clandestinely married his daughter.
His sentence was ten years, but the
years and a few days. In 1900 Mr..
Heald received an appointment as pri-
vate secretary to the warden of the
penitentiary at Anamosa. He served q
year in this capacity and during his
time he had access to the entire prison
and formed strong friendships with
some of the prisoners confined. One
OF the friendships thus formed was
with Mr.. Dawson, who wSs kindly
man. and one who never tired of asso-.
citation with men Of that institution.
who were In touch with the outside
world. He was about S. years of age,
and, because of his physical condition,
was confined in the hospital great
part OF the time.
There he had a small laboratory fitted
up, and altho his invention was COM
plete at the time of his entrance to the
penitentiary he spent many hours day
working out the great possibilities Of
lis formula. 1t was during his spare
hours that Mr.. Head was in the habit
of calling at his cell and talking for
hours with the man who was living out
his punishment. THE convict was a
man who had had the advantage of ex
tensive scientific research and together
the young man and the old discussed
almost every question which was of in
terest to either of them. The friendship
grew warm and firm; books were read;
Head studied hard ana Dawson was
given the advantage Of it, and the latter
was afforded medium with the outside
world that probably would not have
been his under any other circumstances.
To further strengthen the feeling be-
tween the men when Dawson was
finally pardoned, Mr.. Head was the
bearer of the glad news to the old man,
whose hair had grown silvery in the few
years he had spent behind the iron bars,
and who. when he heard the words that
meant freedom to him, exclaimed:
am victor at last. / will live down the
men who have tried to extort from
me my invention"
Later when he left the prison 1t was
on the arm OF Mr.. Heald and together
that day they Hined.
Since Mr. Head has been In the
he and his old friend have
continually, and a year
ago they enjoyed visit with each
other in Iowa City at the Barrett home.
Mr.. Head is one OF the rising
young men of the state, Is warm
personal friend Of Congressman Robert
Cousins and other prominent men of
The state and during the campaigns of
the past few years has been using his
powers of oratory in behalf of the
party. He will graduate.
from the law department in June unless
It becomes necessary for him to begin
work in his new capacity before the
of his course.