Courier Democrat., 1904-12-29
PARDONED
(orlginal.l

oSAASs
A lady In trolley car held up reti-
cule which had been slit from top to
bottom.
Conductor" said gentleman sit
ting opposite. stop that man getting
OF the platform. He was sitting be-
side the lady"
Several men rushed for the man nc
ferred to and held him.
"What's the matter?" he asked.
Somebody's robbed that lady. You
were sitting beside her"
Suppose was. I didn't rob her."
"Police" yelled the conductor, ring
Ing the stop bell and beckoning to a
policeman lettering ON the sidewalk.
The man Of law suddenly frightened
up at the prospect Of something to do
and hurried to the car. The suspected
man was taken to police station and
searched, but nothing vas found on
him. But there was nothing remark
able in that. These thieves all have
pals, to whom they can pass the
'tswag."
The next morning the culprit was
brought up for examination, and the
lady who had been robbed appeared
against him.
| "Whats your name?' asked the in
spector.
| "John Joslin."
The inspector looked at him with the
air of one who was not to be thus i'm
posed upon.
"Jim Boise" he said, you're the
most impudent crook that has ever
figured in the police courts. But you're
a fool to work this town. know Of d
dozen ladies you robbed year ago
who can be brought to swear to your
identity. Your picture is in the rogues'
gallery, and yet you play your pranks
with as much assurance as If you had
never been up before"
~ am not Jim Boise, 1 am not a
crook. and never robbed any one"
The inspector certainly did not ex-
pect the man to acknowledge his guilt
he sent him away and forgot him the
next moment in the next case.
At the trial the inspector was as
good as his word. The state produced
nine women who testified that they
had at different times and in different
ways been robbed by the accused.
Boise had been convicted before on
their testimony, had been sent to the
penitentiary and had escaped. 1t was
only necessary for the state attorney
to prove that he was the same man,
and, this being done conclusively by
the women he had robbed and COM
parison Of his features with his pic
ture in the rogues' gallery. he was sent
to prison. With the added term, he
would serve twelve years. The prison
gate changed behind him, and the
world forgot him.
Seven years passed. One morning q
man was brought in charged with pick
ing lady's pocket. He was caught
before he could get away or get rid Of
the plunder, a pocketbook with the Ia
dy's initials on it and $55 in bills in it.
"Who are you?" asked the inspector.
"What'll you do for me if save the
state expense by owning up and plead
ing guilty?"
"I'm quite sure the Judge will take
off the usual time"
Gall right. I'm Jim Boise"
The prisoner was sent away, but the
next day he was brought up again.
whats your gamer asked the in
spector.
Haven't any game except to get q
short term"
you're not Jim Boise Jim Boise is
serving term now. Got a telegram
this morning from the warden that
he's where he was put seven years
ago."
Cant help that. I'm Jim Boise"
The inspector took up photograph
lying on the desk before him and look
ed from it to the prisoner.
'It might have been your picture
seven or eight years ago. Singular case
this. I must look into it,
He did look into 1t and found that
seven years before John Joslin, owing
to his resemblance to Jim Boise, had
gone to serve a twelve years term In
prison.
One morning John Joslin emerged
from his cell, put on the clothes he had
taken off seven years before and pass
ed down a corridor Of cells amid a
shower Of congratulations.
"Pardoned!'
"Good luck to you. hope you won't
get caught next time"
These were some Of the remarks
made to the man who had under mis-
take served seven years. sentence.
The next morning he alighted from
train and walked over road he had
often walked before. The birds We're
singing in the trees, the dew glistened
in the sun, the air was laden with q
fresh country odor. The man walked
TIL he came to cottage. Its paint had
worn away, the fence had rotted, but
IN the windows weEe neat white cur
tains. AZ the gate clicked behind him
q pale, overworked woman appeared
at the door. With cry she rushed
forward and fell into his arms. Sew
sral half starved children gathered
4