Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1907-06-28
Death Cell Warning to Young Men.

Death Cell Warning to Young Men.
George Ryan. 20 years of age one
of three cOnvicts executed at jefferson
City, Mo, yesterday for the murder ot
Prison Guard John Clay during a con
cCrted attempt to escape from the
penitCntiary, wrote the day before he
was lead to the gallows an autobiosra-
ply of his life and entitled a Warn
mg-The True Story of a Wastei
Life Ryan who was naturally gifted
and enjoyed the indulgence of foni
parents attributed his down fall 10
his first offense, playing truant from
school. Ryan said that his object in
preparing the history of his life was
as a warning to young men who have
started on the wrong road. and for the
purpose of trying to induce them to
forego their evil ways and to lead up-
right and honorable lives. Ryan was
reared in st. Louis. His parents and
sister live there now, and he has with
held his right name in order to shield
them. He received a public school
education in St Louis. \ cadetship
in the Missouri State university was
once awarded TO him, but he failed 90
pass the examinations.
His statement goes into every detail
of his downward career. from the first
receptions of his parents and leading
up to the awful extreme penalty for 4
| life of crime In concluding the MARIA
| tive he said:
Il desire to add a few words of earn
est advice before concluding this sor-
did history: After following me step
by step from a happy home, in which
| was pctted and caTessed by the fonI.
| est mother and father, and in which
continued to offend until | oycrsteppC,
| the boundaries of paternal endurance
| ask you to accompany me into my
cell and view me as | stand toda );
stripped of every atom of insufferab7c
vanity and ConCeit, more contemplate
in my own eyes than l can scarce b.
i'll the eyes of any other-not yet .
years of age-I am a condemned mar
only to realize the bitter truth thl
it is all my own fault-Only to reaiz,
the Oft-repeated predictions Of the be.
OF fathers.
Il stand today the living example Il
which the slightest departure from tn,
path of honesty will inevitably lead
Not in one Casc-nOt in ten cases-bu
in every case is the reward the same
Never have | heard of or Witnessed al
exception to the rule. Death by dc
cree of law, death by Just violence O
death from general exhaustion occas
r toned by the confinement of prisO
life is an ignominious death. Beside
a life through which a path to this en-;
is followed is entirely without plea,
uTe. Not one moment of peace or sal
, isfaction is there to be obtained fron
such a life.
Witness my position this very da!
And heed this crudeIy composed. bu
| earnestly offered advice. | stand trcn
bling in the moral fear of death, no,
ing and praying for an opportunity t
try and redeem myself. Waiting, wal
ing for, unless executive clemancy
extended, an ignominious death
Setting aside the question of rigt
and morals, there is absolutely notl
ing in the life of an outlaw to env
After while money ceases to have an
p, value in his eyes. He looks upon tn
public as his banker and cunning 4
his check-book. good for any amour
, All of his life is spent vainly trying
escape justice.
| HE lives so hard he ceases to enjC
life. He knows the time is sure
S come when he will lose his life or h
= liberty, and delay only postpones II
inevitable. 1t isn't that he loses al
sleep over danger from the officers
, the law-but the outlaw carries or
thought constantly in his mind!
, knows where a majority of those {
ficers get their information, and
knows he is liable to become, u
ii known, associated with an infamy
Z any time.
''He knows that some day, unless
is shot first. this Judas will set
work. the trap will be laid, and he W
IS be the surprised instead of the ST