Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1909-07-22
NOVELTY IN PAROLES
What Kansas Penitentiary PriS-
oners Must Do to Get Out.
AGREE TO ATTEND CHURCH.

ConVicts.
Governor Subbs Of Kansas has es-
tablshed a new requirement in the
paroling and pardoning of prisoners
in the state penitentiary. Hereafter
when convict is liberated on parole
cr by absolute pardon he must stipu-
late in writing that he will regularly
attend church, Sunday school and
prayer meeting once each week. If
the prisoner is pardoned the governor
will have no recourse if the agreement
is violated. but parolcd prisoner
could be returned to the penitentiary.
The parole law Of Kansas provides
that convict must agree to keep
away from bad associates. seek EN-
ployment and lead a moral life.
Il have added church going and
Sunday school service to the list"
Governor Subbs said, "because it is
the kind of influence which ought to
surround every man or woman who
comes out of Il state penitcntiary |
shall insist upon this agreement from
every prisoner paroled, no matter how
exemplary has been his conduct in the
penitentiary."
Governor Stubs does not believe
much in the innocence of men or wom-
en- who get into the pententiaries of
the country. lie entertains high opin-
ions of courts and iuries that try and
convict them, and he does not believe
a governor should set aside their iudg-
ments.
The governors attitude has become
known in the state penitentiary and
the letters which are being received
at the executive office in Topeka from
convicts are of a different tenor from
those that came during the late Hoch
administration. Governor Stubbs must
also be convinced that man is peni-
tent before he will grant a parole or
pardon, even if the Judge, the jury and
the prosecuting attorney who convict
ed him petition for the mans release.
He says penitence is one of the worlds
greatest virtues.
In the Kansas institution. where
more than 1000 prisoners are incar-
-, '"e'' "'e 'ii'iS "o
would make good and useful citizens if
released These are the men who will
receive favors from Governor Stubbs,
but those who write telling of their
innocence do not receive much con
sideration unless they possess the Dcn-
itent spirit.
Governor S'upbS wonders II MS eN-
PeIIeu'e Il SIiilIIar To ihal OF "lher
executives throughout the country IL
ne were /" heIIefc an the letters writ
,eH 10 MN pE cohNlciS not less thah
~ per cent OF the men III the pehi-
tentiaIN are aoSoluteIy innocent ana
lue o''ier 10 per cent are only partially
SunlH.
occasionally the governor receives
ieI'eF from convict VINO doeSh pre-
tehu 10 ne innocent. one OF lhis kihd
"h!Sn came III the ihalIS lew Gays
ago contained a sharp hlnG at former
Governor Hoch. who, 1t has been re
ported paFdohed the murderer Arnold
because he wrote Il sentimental poem.
Inc cohNlcts name Is withheld by
lows:
Juo5ing from what ! have read, from
''giu WIN lI'i.'"''S "' l,,.S
clustog that / am tbe only cuilfv scamr
IN th.s place. | can't plead innocence ]
can write a classical poem, and l have
0'Vo'l'S I,., III ,f Conservatory Ser,
some this leaves me. Better kicl, me out
OF here lest l corrupt the morals Of this
'"s'!''''o"'
thls le.ter Is written III remark
AMY ihe manu- ME the le'ter IS re-
,iesnliS ,1 III 'nd' 1t ls ulherene from
l4ulV' ''is VI o.AtiS ltgel'eu from 'ne
SAINT i"s 'i'uliou II - llheiS 'ii"I pelore
7'"'''9 any l''"'S 10 'hIS 'oiINl'I
,ne gov ein"i WIN le'ollilhehu lhal ne
pSs'" '"' 'u''I'd'ioh OF movers III
'N' ''">'i ,"'".A vi MS sou'' ihIS
tAp'tNN'"i "aN p''h uSeu Ill JEST many
.'lueN SINCE II was hrSL uttered ny
IoIl1c' nov eruor ii"ch peIofe lhe grad
u"''ll! ''"SS'S Oh ,he Slate university
ou' .'o' ''''"r "'"p"S peleNeS III Tue
'"e' 1t ''u eAs
'.N'i'"ii'l Tue 'onNIctS "rlte that
'r'' ''''i ans "Hl," were Soou "heh
'Ht' N'"' IhI" ihe p'hlIehtiarN' are
beng corrupted by the many criminals