The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1907-07-19
special Correspondence to The Press

morning, as he left the walls of the
federal prison.
Today's release of VIM. January,
better known as Chas. w. Ander-
son. the Jean Vatican of America.
marks the closing incident in l of
the most remarkable cases in the
annals of the country's criminal his
tory.
Early in the morning Mrs. Jan.
uary was there, waiting to welcome
10 her arms again the man to
whom, although deceived, she had
intrusted her life, and by whose she
bravely stood through all adversely.
Tears welled from the eyes of both
as they babe the warden farewell.
A business is awaiting January, ar
ranged by friends who fought for
his release.
Little Lucille sent the following
message to Roosevelt: Thank you
for sending papa home to me and
mamma. We are happy. Papa says
he will be a good man for us and
the country"
Just before his release, January,
for the first time since his re-
arrest in Kansas City, April 20,
gave the representative of this
newspaper his own story of his
past life, including his connection
with the robbery of a postoffice in
Oklahoma. his conviction and his
Swear sentence.
ut was when ! was nearly 20
years of age" said the modern Jean
Vatican, that | went to Oklahoma,
then a new country, to begin life
for myself. | secured job firing
a sawmill engine for man named
Martin, living at his house. Six
weeks after my trouble with Kirk,
and. while I was still employed by
Martin, the little store and post
Office at Plumb, a crossroads town
some miles away, was robbed.
Now, for the first thine since my
second arrest, l wish to say that
Notwithstanding have paid the
penalty for my alleged crime, | was
not guilty. Oklahoma was a new
country, and robberies were Of fire.
quent occurrence. 1t took little evil
dence to convict a man and put
him in prison. Kirk was arrested
on a charge of being implicated in
the affair, and days later my ar
rest followed. l had no idea why
/ had been arrested, and l thought
1t would be an easy matter to
prove my innocence, as l could
show | was at Martins home the
night of the robbery. Kirk and
were taken to the Jail at Guthrie
to await trial. AS | remember it,
the robbery occurred in the spring,
but we remained in Jail until the
trial in December, 1895.
Kirk pleaded guilty and testified
that was with him in the crime
The proprietor of the store said
there were persons. Although
Martin and his family told the jury
| was in their home that night,
Judge Frank Dale said he thought
the Martins were mistaken in the
date. The jury found me guilty,
and | was sentenced to 5 years in
the federal penitentiary. Kirk was
given 3 years.
Il never wanted to harm anybody
In my life except that l time"
January went on; 'but | frankly
admit that had been given the OPP
portunity l would have punished w.
l.. Kirk for what he had done. We
were brought to the federal prison
here together, and at first were
given cells close to each other.
Once when | passed him in the
yard | tried to strike him, because
the sight of the man almost drove
me mad. Kirk asked the warden
that he be taken away from that
part of the prison, and he was re-
moved. | never saw him again. l
don't know when he was released.
Weeks and months passed. My
cell was changed once or twice.
One day prisoner named Axon
told me would find that one of the
iron bars in my cell door had been
cut. The same thing had been
to his He said desperate men
had previously occupied these cells
and had planned to escape. The
cut bars were not easily noticed.
and apparently the cell inspectors
had never discovered them.
For 2 weeks | hesitated. |
couldn't make up my mind. | knew
that if the cut bars were discovered
/ would be held responsible and
would forfeit all my good time al
lowance. | then had 16 months to
serve. Finally began to think
that perhaps Providence had open
ed the way for my escape. In my
heart | knew ] was innocent, and
God knows | thought | had received
my share of punishment. At last
Axiom and ! planned our escape.
ut was IL o'clock the night of
Oct. 3, 1898, that we wrenched
aside the bars and slipped out. A
guard fired at us before we had
crossed the yard, but we dashed to
wards a tunnel and went in. 1t
was used for carrying steam pipes.
All the rest OF that night, all the
following day AMI until II o'clock
of the next night we hid in the tun-
mel without food or water If hell
can cause more suffering than we
endured, II must surely be worse
than they say.
When midnight came at last we
slipped out, climbed the steps in /