The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1904-12-28

He had been sentenced to Eve years.
Imprisonment, and was waiting for the
officers to take him to prison. His
mother came to say goodby to him,
and the jailer left them alone for a
few minutes.
Any man would hate TO watch a
mothers farewell to her son under
such circumstances, so in their few
moments of privacy mother and son
changed clothes.
When the time was up the jailcr led
out n grief-stricken figure in skirt and
bonnet, leaving lad weeping on the
prison bed.
BY and by he returned to say words
of comfort to the boy, to bid him TO
"brace up" To his astonlshment he
found laughing woman.
Two hundred years ago, almost--in
1T1&-the Countess of Nlthsdale res
cued her husband from the Tower of
London in much the same manner.
The Earl of Nithsdale was to be exc
cuted Cor treason. His wife had begged
in vain for his life, and then had made
up her mind TO rescue him.
With two women she went TO the
Tower TO see him, carrying an extra
skirt, hood and cloak. Then she sent
one Of her friends away, then the 9th
er; one of them returned and went
away again.
Finally, when she thought the guards
would be confused as to the number
of women who had gone in and out,
she packed Off her husband, dressed
in the clothes she had brought.
She herself stayed in his room for
half an hour, talking in her own voice
and replying in his, and at last, telling
his servant and the guards that the
Earl was praying, and did not want TO
be disturbed, she went away herself.
The Earl escaped to the Low Coun-
tries, where in time the Countess
Joined him.
In 1915 the French Count de Lava
lette was sentenced to death for hav-
ing aided Napoleon on his return to
France earlier in the year. His wife
took his place in the cell and let him
escape.
In the same way Maggie Jordan
helped Sharkey, a convicted murderer,
to escape from the Tombs thirty years
ago. He was never recaptured.
Another historical story has been re-
peated recently.
Adolph Beck, an Erglishman, served
two terms of Imprisonment for obtain
ing money under false pretences. He
swore that he was innocent, but as
"they all do that" no one believed
him.
Not so long ago he was again arrest
cd on a similar charge. About the
same time William Thomas was arrest
ed also on like charge. Then the
police began to investigate matters,
and Thomas confessed that he had
committed the two crimes for which
Beck was punished.
So the British Government gave
Beck "free pardon" to restore him
to citizenship, and offered him $1O,-
600 to say nothing about the matter.
He refused. He has not kept quiet,
and he hopes to get more money as
compensation.
In 1862 Jean Calas, a French mer-
chant, was the victim of a similar er-
ror. He was accused of murder,
found guilty and executed with the
cruelty of the time. His family, too,
was ruined by the conflscation Of his
property.
After his death the real murderer
was found. Voltaire, the great French
writer, led successful popular de-
mand that his memory should be
cleared.
The story Of Jean Calas' tragic fate
has been used as the basis for play,
"Le Courier de Lyon" which is known
In this country as "The Lyons Mall
New York. Journal.
COWBOYS FIGHT WITH A STEER
The great event at Cheyenne this