The Chanute times. [volume] (Chanute, Kan.) 1897-1913, 1906-12-14
HOW DEAL WITH CRIME

a good deal of space to discussing
the parole system and will also re-
commend suspension of sentence
law, giving the district judges power
in certain cases to suspend sentence
and give the prisoner at the bar
another chance. Whether such law
would work wellwould depend on th>
fudge. 1t he happened to be man
OF great sympathy and not agrea'
deal of frmness he would be worked
on numerous occasions by smooth
tongued CRIMINALS who can pnt up
a talk that is calculated to move the
heart of cigar sign. If the court
had great common sense and firm
ness mixed with reasonable amount
of sympathy such law would work
all right. Many man goes to the
penftentlary who might be saved
the disgrace and made a good citi-
zen by being given another chance.
The other day we were told true
story illustrating this. Down among
the mountains of Virginia lived a
rupped farmer of Scotch Irish blood.
He was thrifty and even on his
rough and rocky mountain farm he
lived comfortably and saved up a
little from year to year. One day
he noticed that some corn was miss
ing from his crib and asked his little
grandson if he had been taking any
corn out of that end of the crib
The boy said that he had not
"Well," said the old man, some
body has and l will just set steel
trap for him." He accordingly St
a large steel trap at the hole wher'
the corn had been taken. The mex
morning when the boy went out te
feed the stock he saw a man stand
ing by the crib and called to his
grandfather. The rugged old mar
came out and looked the thief over
He was neighbor who had beer
counted as a sort of shiftless fellow.
who had on different occasion;
worked for the old man. "Henry,"
said the old man, "why did yo'
want to steal my corn? If you OF
your family needed corn you knew
that all you had to do was to com
and ask me and would have let yo
had it freely. l would not hav
allowed you or your family to suf
err" In the meantime the old mar
had released the thief who, covered
with shame and modification, hAt
broken down and commenced tc
weep. "Now," continued the olt
man, ego get your sack and horse
Then he filed the sack putting ;
bushel of corn in one end and .
bushel of wheat in the other. &C.
home" said the old man. Pay me
for this with work when you can.
No one will ever know from me that
this occurred and it will make &c
difference in my treatment Of you.
No one knows this except yourself,
myself, and this boy. l will never
tell 1t. The boy will never tell it.
If he does l will tan his hide for him
and if anyone else ever finds it out
you will have to tell him yourself.
The thief overwhelmed with the
kindness wept as only strong man
can weep. From that time on he
was an altered man. He worked
faithfully to pay for the grain given
him. He accumulated little farm
of his own and gradually established
the reputation of being one of the
most reliable and substantial men in
the community. A few years after
his neighbors elected him sheriff of
the county. No whisper of the
Germ stealing ever got circulated.
At last, full of years, the old man
lay down to die. HIS funeral was
being conducted in the usual form.
The mountaineers were not a de
monstrative people although they
testified their respect for the de
ceased by attending his funeral.
The mountain preacher had offered
his prayer and made his remarks
and the coffin was about to be car