The Detroit times., 1910-06-17


TO "A violent end. He resolved from
the day OF his escape to become a
citizen OF good standing and 10 live
down the past He went TO Winona.
Ind. and got job as second cook.
painter and coal shoveller. While he
was working In hotel at Winona,
he met his present wife She had six
children. one OF whom, a girl OF II.
is living with them in Jackson now
Others Of her daughters are married
and well-to-do residents OF Moline and
other nearby places.
With the assistance OF his wife. Al
lison was encouraged in his battle to
dive down the past. They went to
Rock Island. Ills. and then 10 Moline.
In the latter city Allison secured a
position as feeder OF a cylinder press
in the Moline pillow works All this
time he WAS known under an assumed
name. His wife and her children knew
absolutely nothing about the Jackson
convict To them he was an entirely
different man. For several years he
lived as any good citizen lives. The
baby girl added sunshine 10 the happy
home. But the shadow OF crime
that had hung over him all these
years. finally landed him in the tolls
OF the law again. man walking
through the pillow works recognized
Allison by his photograph, and he was
brought back to Jackson.
The wife removed to Jackson. She
carried on vigorous campaign and.
IS months after Allison had been re
captured. he was given his freedom
To live down the stigma that at
taches 10 convict Is no easy task in
some communities.
But. In Jackson. Allison and his
family were given every consideration
10 convince them that tie past had
been forgotten. IL was now John Al
lison. skilled workingman, mingling
with men OF commendable standing.
His wife, too. was treated with liberal
consideration by her neighbors. There
was never a hint that John Allison
had been a member Of bold gang OF
burglars and that he had served a
term in Jackson prison.
But eventually John Allison began
TO show the effects OF good fellowship
with the small coterie In which he
mingled. He used 10 go out with
young men and often remained on the
streets late at night. The police eau
toned him to stay at home: they
made IL plain that the suspicion
naturally pointed to him il burglaries
were committed certain citizens, IL
is said. even complained because John
Allison was allowed TO walk the
streets after midnight
Allison says ne was doing no more
harm than does any other citizen who
az n late ~ Oh Tho cfiv,N
came several weeks ago when Allison
was arrested for shooting craps" az
ter midnight in a Chinese restaurant.
IL was then that the obscene pictures
were found on him.
The real truth of the matter is, the
police OF Jackson have been led. by
circumstances known TO themselves.
10 suspect John Allison of completely
in several postofice robberies ia the
vicinity of Jackson. There was no
foundation in fact for the suspicion,
so far as can be learned. except that
Allison had not remained at home at
night as much as the police had ex-
pected.
But today. John Allison says he is
determined to make good" He has
powerful physique and. in his new
position as boilermaker. says he viii
toll and do his utmost to vindicate
himself
The odds are against me-" Is his
philosophy. but IL am given another
chance I'll do what's right | haven't
done anything wrong. except 10 he Il
good fellow. II the police can connect
me in any way with any crime since
| was 1aroled I'm willing TO go back
TO Jackson for the remainder OF my
life
The people of Jackson will be lib
eral, as they have been In the past. in
their treatment OF Allison. He
says he will make good, and IL the
hand OF fate deals lightly with him in
the future II must come through his
own efforts. The police say there is
no attempt at persecution. and Allison
agrees that they have treated him
with liberal consideration.