The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-05-26
THREE MADE HAPPY.
Two Prisoners Receive Memorial Day
Pardons.

Two prisoners in the penitentiary
will be happy on Memorial day. next
Monday, because on that day. by the
grace of Governor Bailey, they viii go
forth from the prison free.
When Warden JeWett returned to
Lansing last evening from Topeka he
carried with him communications for
these two men, and also a conditional
pardon for Frank Black Boy, a young
Dakota Indian, who has been in the
penitentiary for three years. The men
who receive communications are S. NJ.
Connors and John Harper.
The latter is a Swede in spite of his
name. As boy of IA he entered a.
Swedish navigation school at Stock
holm, and after three years study he
graduated as a second mate. He fol-
lowed the sea for a time but came to
America in 1889 and drifted out to Kan
sas. In 1891 ne was down at Fort
Scott and in company with three 9TH
ers was arrested for holding up man
and taking an oVercoat from him.
They were convicted and because a
number of depredations had been COM
mitted there about that time, they We're
given long sentences. The other three
were sentenced to fifteen years in the
penitentiary, but because Harper was
older he was given twenty-One years.
One of the others died, another had
relatives who secured his release, and
the sentence of the third was commut-
ed by Governor Stanley. Harper is the
in the penitentiary, and he has been
there thirteen years. Several years ago
Harpers pardon. was before the board
of pardons, and his pardon was recon-
mended by the judge and officials who
tried him, but his pardon was not
granted. At this time his Communication
was recommended by a number OF
Bourbon county officials, and Governor
Bailey was convinced that he has been
sufficiently punished.
Connors lived in Kansas City, Kan
Seven years ago, when he was IL, he
was convicted of burglary and SEN
fenced to the penitentiary for twelve
years. Some disease has been attack
ing his eyes recently and he has en-
tirely lost one and the sight of the
other is failing. His relatives asked
his release in order that they might
take him where he could receive medi-
cal attention in the hope of saving
what sight he has left. Counting his
good time off his sentence would ex-
Governor Bailey commuted mis- SEN
tence that he may not go entirely blind
if there is a chance to save his one
remaining eye.
Frank Black Boy, the young Dakota
Indian who is given a conditional par
don, was attending Haskell institute at
the time he was sent to the peniten-
tiaTy three years ago. His parents live
at Fort Totten, North Dakota. One
day he went to a circus in Lawrence
and fell in with some camp followers.
He was only II and the circus men
persuaded him to help them break in
to a store. They got him to go inside
to do the stealing while they stayed
outside to watch They were frighten-
ed away and the Indian boy was
caught. He was sentenced to six years
in the penitentiary. Warden Jewett
says he has been a remarkably good
prisoner, considering his bringing up,
and has learned a good trade. He is
not paroled but is given a conditional
pardon which leaves him directly IN
der the wardens control. The super
intendent of Haskell institute will take
MIN back to school there, and Warden
Jewett believes he will be a good In
dian" in the future