The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1907-05-13
Penitentia Lives a Mod
ern Jean Vatican.
HfROBBED DABANk
Eight Years Ago, was Sent to Prison
Escaped, Reformed; was Retakea
and Now Seeks Pardon.

jackson, Mich, May 13.--After Two
years Of freedom, during which he
tried to atone, for his past misdeeds
by hard work and decent living, John
Allison, member OF the notorious
Lake Shore gang, who was sentenced
to IL years In prison for participation
in the Richland, Mich, bank robbery
and escaped in 1904, IS back In the
Jackson pen to serve out his remain
ing IL years, unless he secures a pa.
role or pardon because OF his good
record during the two years OF free.
dom.
The Lake Shore gang spread terror
through southern Michigan and north.
ern Ohio and Indiana in 1898 by their
robberies. In 1899 Allison with three
other members Of the gang, Pevertt,
Slater and Spellman, was captured
and convicted of robbing the Richland
bank. Allison was given Q 17-year
sentence and with the others sent to
prison here. Pevertt was transferred
for unruly conduct to the northern
prison at Marquette, but In 1904 the
other three men were still In the
prison here. While repairs were be.
ing made in the institution they sue.
ceeded in escaping.
Allison made his way to Illinois,
forsook his former ways, took new
name and went to work as a me-
chanic. He met Mrs. Wagner, a
widow with four children, fell in love
with her and married her without dis
closing his past life and the shadow
which hung over him of the possibil-
ity of being returned to prison.
Months later. just before the birth OF
their baby, he told the story to his
wife, who said that they would try to
forget II and live down the old life.
However, just before last Christmas,
the mechanic at work in the plow
works at Moline, ILL.,. was recognized
as the escaped convict Allison and
was arrested. ~
He was Immediately returned to
the prison here. Allison's fellow
workmen in the plow works raised a
purse for Mrs. Aliisoe and she came
to this city where she might be near
her husbNad aHdk kcS4f work for his
release. Twice a month, on visiting
days, she has a brieftalk with him:
Allison's blameless life after his es.
cape and his manifest efforts to for
sake his former companions and hab-
its, has aroused much sympathy for
him and he seems TO be In a fair way
to secure the longed for parole. For
titled by long petition for his release
signed by his former associates in
Moline, Allison will next week make
formal application to the pardon
board for clemency, and start the
wheels which he hopes will set him
free again. pE
Gov. Warner. who was Impressed
with Alllsons apparently sincere re.
formation, believes he should be
given some relief from the long term
of Imprisonment which he faces. The
governor says that II the pardon
board after investigation agrees that
he can commute Allison's sentence SO
that he will already have served half
OF II, enabling him to be released on
parole under the law and then give
him permission to leave the state so
that he can return to Moline and re-
sumo his work, he will do SO. His
employers have stated that they will
re.employ him. BY working overtime
In the prison hammer shop Allison Ia
able to earn from $40 to $40 per
month which is given to his wife for
her support.
A singular fate seemed to pursue
the Lake Shore gang since their con.
viction Of the Richland bank robbery.
Pevertt chopped of his hand to avoid
working in the Marquette prison and
was sent to the asylum for criminal
insane at Ionja. He escaped last fall.
but was rearrested In Garrett, Ind,
last week and returned to the asylum.
Slater was shot and killed few
months ago while committing burg.
larry In Ohio. Spellman has never
been located since his escape.
Z . !.