Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1908-07-17
PRISONER TELLS
HOW EVIL Grows
-------------------------
joseph Mack, No. 2026, Writes
A Iona Letter to the
Governor.
WANTS TO LIVE DOWN PAST
No BOY Plungcs Into Crime AT one
Leap, He says, But sinks
Gradually.

rosenh Fl. Mack. undergoing hVe
,ear sentence in the Utah state prison
Cor robbery committed at ogden mas
written letter to Gov. Cutler IN
,yhicn he expresses a desire to try to
live down the stormy and checkeren
rareer of A. years wrongdoing ot
Iote th, man has shown evidences Oh
naforn noticeable to officials of the
r,ison. Macks letter and the answer
nf Gov. cutler follow:
Irtah state Prison, July 4, 1908
Hon. John c. cutter.
M pear sir-It is with some hesitation
I. write YOU this note. But you nave
been so kind to me, In many ways that
feel that in common gratitude, that
/ owe you some return. And as you
have apparently taken deep Interest,"
in advancing the cause OF juvenile re-
clamation, and the establishment or the
Juvenile court. u,.
You have read the story of my life
vii are entitled to know still more
shout me. The causes of my LIES fal-
ure 1t may help you in your work OF
saving youths of your state.
The causes that lead youths into the
usaths of sin, of degeneration and ms
cry, aud oftines to prison, and theh
10 a felon's grave, are many. sui 'nS
one great cause of all Is that they rely
upon their own willpower, AID strength
to carry them through all temptations
Now, no man or youth plunges into
life of crime at once. it comes on
gradually, and the temptation takes ON
a guided form. And when IL ~ TOO
late, they find that their boasteu
strength and willpower to resist temp
tation has not been sufficient to enable
them to stand tire
Sometime ago l read an article IN
the newspaper. where in one of your
speeches you referred to me as man
who had spent almost his whole me-
in various prisons, and VINO, undef
more favorable conditions and trainins
might have become a good and highly
respected citizen, but that now his life
had been utterly wasted. and perhaps
his immortal soul lost as well.
/ feel glad and proud to be able to
assure you that | have determined To
save my soul, not by my own power,
hut by the mercy and grace of my Gre
atoI, for that Is my only reliance.
IL IL II year ago since j formed that
resolution and since then ] have found
peace of mind and strength to resist
all temptations.
My very conduct IN this prison shows
that some great change has taken place
within me. No proposition or temptd-
ton from within myself or from my
fellow prisoners has led me one line
from the straight path of what L know
to be right.
! have and am now suffering pains,
aches and sickness that would drive
most men insane, and have often been
tempted 10 end IL all. Then your words
came to me. and perhaps lost his I'm
mortal soul AK we'll" And in my agony
] have cried out to tho merciful God
and prayed, oh. so earnestly. that He
would give me the strength to bear my
burden And He has never failed me
for have found new strength and that
peace which passeth all understanding.
If the Lord spares my life | will sure
~ devote the greater part of II en-
deavoring to show the youths of this
country how easily It Is to be led, step
by step. from the home life and ali
that Is good and happy into life OF
crime. where all Is misery suffering
and degrading. and that no matter how
clever or smart they may be-, the end
IL the same -prison-prison--an
moral death.
1t Is a well known trait In boy hui
man nature that they are always fas-
cinated by deeds OF daring, whether
the deeds be done by pirates, robbers
or adventures. on land, or sea, and
they long to emulate them. But there
is also another side to boy human ma
lufe. lie longs To be man. And
when you show the boy clearly that
there is nothing brave or manly In any
OF these characters, but that on the
contrary that they are degraded de-
generates. and IL you can speak from
experience, then you reach them. and
gaining their confidence. they will pay
attention TO what you say, and the best
thing you can say to them is this:
Boys. never do anything that you
would be ashamed to let your father
or mother know. BE strictly honest
and pray to God to keep you so al
ways.
write you this letter, not as to the
governor, but to the Hon. John c. Cut
/ ler, Christian gentleman, who's kind
mess and charity to me has compelled
lhie to lay bare my innermost thoughts
fin sincerity and truth
B l can truthfully say that the IN
F.