The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1909-10-01
dOARDS N PRISON
Murderer Saves $500 While
Serving Time in Kansas.
Entered Penitentiary PenniIess Six
teen Years Ago-Saves Several
Lives and State Buildings and
Is Proclaimed a Hero.

Leavenworth, KAMA convict who
entered nearly sixteen years ago, pen
niiess, has just left the Kansas pris-
on with fortune OF $4,000, $500 of
which was earned while behind prison
bars, observing the discipline in every
way.
The money allowance made to con-
victs in Kansas is two cents day, or
$16425 for Is years. so that no such
sum as Phillip Killion took with him
from the office Of the Kansas prison
warden could have been accumulated
except by outside effort.
From another point, Killion leaves
the institution hero, while the en-
tered 1t murderer He goes out to
a farm and prosperity with as good
record as ever a man made behind
the bars. The secret of his wealth is
that he inherited s1,100 while in
prison, and won $4,000 in a guessing
contest nine years ago. The money
was invested for him and added a rea-
sonable amount by interest.
In 1892 Killion, then a young farm
er of Wellington, Kan, shot and killed
a town marshal with whom he had
been very friendly. Killion was in
toxicated and quarrelsome, and the in
reference Of the officer caused him to
lose self-control. He was convicted of
murder in the second degree and SEN
fenced to serve rs years.
A few years after he was confined
he discovered fire in one of the
prison factories. Without cutlery he
risked his life and, unknown to any
one except a few guards, extinguished
the blaze. The warden of the prison,
on leaving, gave him a letter which
vouched for the fact that Killions
bravery had saved the state 100000
and probably some lives.
A few years later Killion had just
reached the top of the coal mine when
fire alarm sounded. He volunteered
to re-descend and bring out the i'm
prisoned convicts. This he did at
great personal risk. When the last
man had left Killion returned to the
runs, entered the workings and did
much to save the mine from destruc-
ton
A Communication of his sentence was
asked, but sentiment was still strong
ly against him in the town from which
he had been sent to prison, and the
effort to free him failed
He had, however, ingratiated him.
self with the authorities of the prison
and life was made as easy for him as
|
who never had to be driven to work
Not once in 10 years was he known
to break the -, 0. ne rules Final
ly he was gi,en ar opportun;y e
study and he in. oved it.
About that time, in 1900, Kansas
; City began the rebuilding of a conven
ton hall that had been destroyed by
I, fire. One of the schemes for raising
? funds rapidly was guessing contest
q for which capital prize of $1,000,
and several others ranging from
!. $4,000 down were offered Killion in
q vested SIS of his prison savings il
tickets and sent in 80 guesses. H,
q won the second prize of $4,000.
q short time afterward a distan
e relative left him $1,100. He game,
c considerable fame as the wealth
a convict" Lawyers swarmed to hin
with offers. Others suggested that h
# would get an absolute pardon TO
a $1,000. Others asked from $500 t
# $500 to get him out of prison. Killio
Il saw the humor of the situation an
!, offered $50 down and $500 upon r,
ls lease. There was noticeable fallin
,s off in his mail and list of callers.
Killion continued his prison dutie
cheerfully, and in 1908 the prise
G pardon board finally took up his cas-
anew on the recommendation of til
IN warden. A parole was decreed to tax
effect this month, and Killion hs
been released with his fortune, to b
gin life on again.