The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1908-11-08
CRIPPLE IN PRISON
MAKES SAD APPEAL
Poet-Scout to Tell Roosevelt
Pitiable Story of Miner
in Jail.

All eAElNsAA AioiG4 tue tD4AluEh or A1Oll-
tana prison to the President of the
United States. involving a strange story
of Individual struggle against over
whelming odds. Is in course of prepaTa-
ton in Washington. and viii be laid be
fore the Chief Executive within a few
weeks.
Crushed By the stern demands of the
law. aIter he had shot his former boss,
whom he held responsible Tor d terrible
explosion which made him a cripple for
life. and sentenced TO life Imprisonment.
Thomas j. Riley. miner. has sue
ceeded during his six years confine-
ment in equipping himself for a tight
for freedom.
Enters Prison.
Riley entered the little prison at Deer
Creek Mont, a crude miner, unlettered,
ignorant OF anything but the free. care
less lie Of miner. He is now so we'll
Versed in law that he is able to pass any
bar examination, and has gained a gem
eral education that would do credit 10
many a college graduate.
Behind It all lies a pathetic story Of
abuse. privatiOn and hardship that on
us face would seem sufficient to turn
the man into the demon that he might
appear on the surface to be In order
TO perfect the education which a life
OF early prlvation had denied him, this
uncOuth miner has worked night and
day making brides OF horseh5ir; brides
beautifully colored and designed; small
IN pecuuiary value, but representing
hours OF arduOus labor, Willingly.
eagerly spent to purchase his liberty.
When the victim Of circumstance had
procured IN this manner enough money
TO begin his night for freedom there
came to the IntercontinentaI University
OF this city, a request for books and
lectures bearing on the mental sciences.
such as logic, phrenology physiology,
and. incidentally, law.
Lust for Gold.
Hidden deep in this rough miners
heart IS the story of the mining camps
OF Montana, the California gold days,
ths mad rush TO the KlOndike. ana ali
those passions which 81 TO make mans
lust for gold paramO INT to any other
incentive. At the age Of thirty years
Riley began the dual. struggle Of de-
veIoping his little claim and OF prOvid-
ing the necessities OF life for Il help
less father At that time he was work
ing IN the mine owned BY Patrick
Larry, a successful hardware merchant
of Butte, Mont
Riley knew that Largy, in open de-
faUce of the law. had stored in his
mire a large amount Of dynamite
Then came an explosion when fifty
men were hurled 10 instant death with
out a moment warning. Thomas Riley
came out alive, but minus an arm and
leg
Some months later. a ghost of his
former self, Riley called upon Largy,
the boss. In the meantime his father,
practically a victim Of the starvation
which he had tried in vain to ward on.
had died
Riley requested financial aid and
L8rgy denied him. Riley's blood boiled,
When Largy kicked him from the
store the end came quickly. There
was six-shooter, a report. a pros
uate miner standing over the form Of
a PROSTATE boss an arrest. a hurried
trial
Riley was railrOaded TO the psniten-
tiaTy: those who knew anything about
the explosion and the loss OF life We're
persuaded to be absent, It IS charged
in the appeal that is being prepared.
Has a Champion.
Riley has a champion now; Capt.
Jack Crawford, known among literary
people as the poet scout" Captain
Crawford is working increasingly Tor
the miners liberty. During the years
Crawford has held close to his heart
the story OF the man who is deprived
of all that goes TO make life worth
while, ana while the latter has studied
law through a correspondence school
and made brides to pay the tuition, the
former he's not been idle.
Rueys story is C5rrOborated by the
Anaconda Standard. OF Butte, and by
others who knew the tale from its sad
beginning TO to its tragic end.
Meantime Riley is still studying law,
studying anything that will help him be
a man when the prison doors clang be-
hind him for the last time. Perhaps,
and Riley prays Sc, President RoOse-
welt -~iIl hear the story and pleading OF
Riley made nv the "DOet scout" friend