East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1908-09-26

Guthrie, Oklahoma, Sept. 26.-
When Miss Kate Bernard, state com
missioner OF Charities and correction
made her now famous tour of the
Kansas penltentiary at Lansing, gath
erlng material for her sensational ex-
pose of the barbaric methods oi
handling some Of the leases" from
this state she advised boy suffering
from homesickness to appeal to the
mother heart Of the Oklahoma execu-
tive's wife.
As IL by telepathy or wireless te-
legraphy the news spread from cell to
to CELL to the men In the mines, into
the women's corridor. The UNDER
ground" message became a "tip" to
ali prisoners in good standing, and a
day or so afterward rs letters, ad-
dressed to Mrs Haskell, were receiv-
ed at the governors office. In the
left-hand upper corner Of each en-
velope was BOX O. Lansing, Kan"
The paper knife told the story.
Every letter contained an appeal for
liberty. Miss Bernard's word Of en-
ceuragement to the boy had become
the hope Of scores OF prisoners. Mrs.
Haskell waded through the. great
batch of mail. carefully deciphering
the often enthusiastic but illegible
specimens of prison chirography.
Then 1t was all turned over to the
newly created pardon board. 1t IL
said that several paroles and one or
two pardons are being seriously con-
s!dered. Investigation of a number OF
cases has been started
Probably never before has gov
ernors wife been honored with sim
liar deluge OF mail. With few excep-
tiOns the correspondents penned a
mighty appeal to Mrs. Haskelrs SYM
pathies. Such promises they made! |
The error Of wrongdoing apparently
impressed every writer with an over
whelmlng desire to begin again. AS
one forger put it-"these bare walls |
are a sure cure"
Nearly all of them tell of the ini- !
quities of the trial judge or the jury. |
They would have Mrs Haskell believe |
that the poor widow" or the or
phan children" or the "aged moth
ers" are the sole incentives.
rs Is to hard to tell which are gen.
u!ne and which are cheats" said Mrs.
Haskell. Here is one boy only Is
years old. sentenced to a term for
horsestcaling. His mother has been
dead seven years, poor little chap. He
needs help"
The poor little chap" writes an ex-
cellent hand. the most legible in the
entire collection. He writes: 81 have
been very good boy while here, Mrs.
Haskell"
Perhaps the most unique of the let
ters is from Robert Jackson. He
says: "As I have been indirected to
write YOU all in the regards of my
trubble. as I has bin here some time
| would like to no if you can help
me- | did not no when | was per-
swaided what would be the result"
"From Jime Jones to Mrs. Has
kell' is the elaborate attempt at for !
mality assumed by one correspond |
ent who admits that "he took few |
pains"
Another hopeful whose term is
nearly expired ANA wants citizen
ship pardon makes note of the in |
tontion to vote for Bryan If he can .
get out by November 4. He gives his !
lineal ancestry in this wise:
81 am German on one side and |
Scotch and Otoe Indian on tother."
Fom one James Hail, sentenced to
a life term for murder, comes most
urgent appeal. The desire of the writer
to impress Mrs. Haskell with his inno-
cence is pathetic. He tells IN diction,
crude but convincing, of false friend
who tried to take his life and that in
sheer defense he choked the life from
his assaianot. some time | will see
YOU ana tell you all" he says, and
closes, And so | remain a prisoner
under your care, Mrs. Haskell" His
letter was one of the first to reach the
Pardon Board
A cry for mercy is contained in the
appeal of a young girl from oklahoma
City. A world of self-rGproach and
shamed womanliness is in the spraw-
ling, tear-stained in lines. L have
been here three years four months and
three days" she writes. "Oh Mrs.
Haskell Jest one more chanst, Jest one
more / will live in the path of
got a job waiting for
me if kin get out. Let me hear from
you rite away, please, lady
"You will notice one peculiar thing
said ]. p. Connor, member of the Par
don Board. "Many of the letters are
from forgers and without exception
they employ the flourishing style.
Compare their letters with the others"
The difference is marked. Not one
convicted forger showed the cramped
hand of the horse thief or burglar or