The Coeur d'Alene press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1906-1907, 1907-03-30
The Anarchist

EyNulIhtes1
John Cunningham had been gov
ernor Of Dartmoor prison for thirteen
years, and during that long interval
not q convict had succeeded In making
bis escape. The governor battered
himself on this fact. He lived four
miles from the prison, and the less he
visited 1t the better things were run
Governor Cunningham finally decld-
ed to write a book on crimlnology.
That was a perfectly natural thing,
since he had so many specimens at
hand. He meant that book TO be
standard and to contain matter to as
tonIsh the world. He was entirely lg-
n0rant of his subject, but he went to
work like a man who means business.
To get his data he had to have prison
srs brought before him to be question
ed and to have their heads examined.
The governor had boosted more than
once that he could tell a predisposed
criminal ten rods away.
One Of the prisoners called before
the governor was James Broughton,
who had received a sentence of Ave
years for embezzlement. The family
was a respectable one, and this was
the first offense for a hundred years.
Broughton himself had anything but
criminal tendencies. He was well edu-
Gated. well appearing and was remark
cd for his intelligence. The governor
found In Broughton the acme for
which he sought. He put him down as
a man who was born with the in
Btincts Of a thief He did not credit
him with ordinary intelligence. He
found him a victim of homlcidal mania.
Broughton had entered prison de-
termined to make his escape If 1t was
within the possibilities. After a years
good conduct he was named for the
agricultural gang, the TRUSTEES who
moved the meadows and raised a
share Of the fresh vegetables consumed
in the prison. He had friends outside
to aid him In so far as furnishing him
suit Of citizens clothes and a small
sum Of money. He had made up bis
mind to go to South America, and he
must have several hundred dollars.
The fact that he knew not where to
raise the money prevented his escape
for months. 1t was not until after the
governor had made him a choice speci-
men Of criminology that brilliant idea
came to him. As the agricultural gang
marched back TO prison one evening
Broughton was missing. and the alarm
was given. He had found the suit, had
been met by friend with horse and
buggy, and by the time the guards
were securing the country for him the
convict was at the governors house.
A rather queer thing had happened
to the governor ten years before, and
~ the incident had been published 1t
was common property in prison and
out He had made a trip to Russia,
aided an anarchist without knowing
what the man was, and after being
shut up IN n fortress for a month he
had been given his liberty and escorted
to the frontier. This humiliation ran
killed. In his breast, and he was not
about saying to freeman or
convict that he would do most any
thing to get square with the Russian
government. lie had been so outspo-
ken that he had received hint from
hls own government to moderate his
speech. He took warning by il, but he
Htill chafed. The telephone called the
governor up to inform him that con-
Wet had escaped. and while he was
russlng about II the card of a stranger
was brought In. The name was that
Of Russian, and the governor at once
thought OF anarchists and nlhllIsts and
arbitrary measures and became hot.
There was confab lasting an hour.
The Russian did not hesitate to confide
In the governor. He Informed him
that a plot was ON foot to overturn
the government and raise a republic
ln Its ruins, He was asked to assist
n the conspiracy. He knew that such
action would make him nmenable to
The law, and yet he remembered the
lreary days and nights In that cell In
he fortress, He had never talked with
more Intelligent man. He had never
net with another foreigner who spoke
he English language so correctly.
The warning received by the great
nan was ringing In his ears. but he
thought OF the miserable food, the wet
'traw and the manper in which he had
been bounced out y the ears domin.
ons and warned to stay out. The tele-
hone gave him the particulars OF the
'onvlct's escape and inquired about Of |
ering reward. but be was too busy
o attend to such tribes. He first said |
10. but as the Russian rose to leave
he house the governor brought out a
AK containing $500 In gold and placed
on the table and turned his back
md began 20 hum the air OF tune. /
The Russian tumbled TO the suhacrip- /
Ion and murmured his thanks. With /
he gold he picked up one OF the gov
rnoPN cards. An hour later a train /
Tas bearing him to Liverpool He was
topped on the way and stopped again
Q he went aboard a steamer for south
america. but that card OF the governor
aFried him through.
The search for Broughton was thor
ugh and long drawn out. As II was