The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-11-23
FREE ONCE MORE.
John Rogers Will Leave Peni-
Tertiary Thanksgiving.
Oldest Convict in State Prison
PardOned by Gov. Stubs.
SENTENCED TO DEATH
Murdered the Step-Father of
Girl Whom He Loved.
Unknown Friend i'm st. Joseph
Has Promised Him Home.

Lansing, Kan. Nov. 23.-After
twenty-seven years in the penitentiary
John Rogers is to be freed Thanks
giving day.
How do you feel about it, Jonn." a
visitor asked him.
When that moment of freedom
comes Rogers will not be met by an
old time friend. There will not be no
kin at the gate. He will be alone ex-
cept for the friendship of a woman
who has. through sympathy for a de-
serted and forlorn man. promised to
give him a home.
John Rogers did nor answer the
question Immediately. His left palm
slipped up to his jaw and slid slowly
toward his chin. There came no
answering smile from his bloodless
lips. Instead. across his brow passed
a shadow indicating tinidity, distress
and worry.
''Nfay Not Know How to Act"
How do I feel about it?'' he re-
peated languidIy. well, I think 1
feel just about the same that 1 felt,
twenty-seven years ago, when 1
caught sight of this prison out there
from the road. when the sheriff
brought me here. I reckon I'm just
a bit nervous. Mebbe I'm some
scared. I don't suppose I'll know
how to act.''
Suddenly he raised his eyes for the
first time and the visitor had a good
look at them. They had lost their
luster; there was no life in them. So
far as sparkle was concerned they
seemed to be dead.
There is a lady from St. Joseph
come, won't she?" he asked. rather
anxiously.
What if she doesn't?'' he was
asked. :" What will you do?"
do? Who. me? Why I know how
to travel from New York to Cal
ifornia. -
Like Boy Defying the Dark.
But there was no confidence in his
tone He was very little boy boast
ing that he wasn't afraid to go upstairs
in the dark, but at the same time
hoping against hope that he would not
he put to the test. :.
But she will come, all right; I
: now it, because she said she would"
What are you going to do out
there %
Rogers huddled a little more and
more down into the big chair in which, |
he was seated. The chair was quite
large. rather accentuating his slight
frame. Suddenly as if reading his
visitors thoughts he said:
II was 20 when came in here; now
I'm Sc. I was pretty active young
ster then. There warnt no one in the
mines that got his task out easier and
quicker than me. l don't suppose 1
could do it now"
Has Seen TrolIeys Only in Pictures.
Strengthening up quickly as if the
last words were an admission of age
and decreasing strength he said:
IT suppose I'll find a whole lot of
things different in ST. Joe. was there
in 10, you know. Do they have troll
ley cars there? You know. I have
never seen q trolley car-except those
have seen in the picture papers-and
it always seemed that in the pictures
looked at the trolley car was where
you couldn't tell what it looked like"
Suddenly he began to laugh. 1t was
rot the laugh of a normal person. but
half chuckle and half croak.
'Have you anything in the office
coming to you?" was asked by the
visitor.
Has Saved $1S5 in p Years
Eyes. 1 have $1s5 coming he an
SWered with a show of pride In 81
years this man had accumulated $1S5.
What are you going to do with it
when you get out?''
I've figured that out. I'm going to
have a $50 new suit-made by a tailor,
ct was. the very little boastful boy
talking AGAIN.. then I'm going to buy
me a $50 Elgin watch and a S. pair
of Shoes
Nearby sat a guard who had been in
the prison for 25 years. He and John
Rogers started in at almost tho same
time, the one a prisoner and the other
lis controlling officer The prisoner
was johnnie" to the guard just as he
had been quarter of century be-
fore.
johnnie he said you have been
here a long time. Maybe you will get
homesick after little while and want
to come back" The old man, for he
is an old man at Sc. looked wistfully