The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-03-24
ALL FOR MONEY.
Mabray Jests With Guards at
Prison Gates.
Graft, He Remarked, Has Caus-
ed All the Trouble.
IN HIS CELL HE SAID:
''It Resembles the ParlOr in
City Flat
The Remark Was the Sorriest
Sort of PathOs.
IN HIS CELL HE SAID:

| LeavenWorth, Kan, March 24.-It
wasn't a desire to be funny that led
John c. Mabray to jest with his guards
at the gates of the federal prison at
Fort Leavenworth-
The guards and the visitors knew it.
There are times in life when laughter
hides tears, and those who knew Ma
bray best said that when he stepped
inside the cell assigned to him and
| looked about its cherries walls his re-
mark that 1T resembles the parlor in
a city fiat" was the sorriest sort OF
pathos. Men like Mabray seldom COM
| plain at hard knocks. They are ready
| to tackle anything. Their faces tell no
tales. Four aces or royal flush send
no rush Of blood to their cheeks
poor Little Hands," He Said
Some class to this structure one CT
the II prisoners said as the party stood
at the gates waiting to be received by
the federal officers.
Wei, SIR" Mabray observed,
thoughtfully: Il don't believe I quite
enough. Think I'll add a story or two
while I'm here"
He held his hands palms up and then
felt their softness. rubbing them to-
gether as if specializing over their
quality of endurance. They were white
and plump and the nails showed evil
dence of care.
Poor little hands, - he quoted. as a
man talks to himself. . Poor little
hands, so soft and white; they've been
such friends to me- We're facing hard
times now, though"
Down in Mississippi.
'It won't be very long. john"
friend said, trying to offer Il bit OF
comfort Good behavior means some
thing off, You'll get through
Not through just in" Mabray
said. This is a 2-year course I'm go
ing take. Lordy, what men viii do Tor
money! And started on FARM?
THE yield wasn't large enough; you
went in for intensive methodist one Of
the party suggested"
Down in Mississippi, it was" Ma
bray went on: .'All my people are
lars a month was the pay. What self
respecting boy OF American blood
would stand for that? Eight dollars!
I've spent that much in a day Tor
today on the farm. I made the mis-
take that many a farm boy makes.
thought money and life under the lights
were the sum total of desirable ex-
istence. 1t was years before got INTO i
the running. Gambling, square games
at first, where everyone had a chance
and then the games where a lead pipe
cinch' was the thing. No man can
defy the law for long. though. and I'm
going to get mine now"
Money Caused 1t All.
There's one regret in this for me-.
one or the IL companions in misery
said. land that is that all the Mikes
who tried to beat the game aren't here
with us. They were just as crooked:
sThey WERE" said Mabray. They |
had graft in their white hearts when
they fell for it. Respectable business
mem and church members and honest |
farmers and worthy capitalists will |
ing to sneak a few thousands if no one 1
caught them. I'd be glad to serve an /
extra two years to have some or them
here with me-.
They were Mabray's only hard words:
When he entered the prison his record
was written In a big book by gray
haired man who had been banker In
an eastern city, a sad faced man whose
ewes were dull. The magazine and
newspaper the warden let him have
were handed him by an aged man.
weak under the burden of years and
ex-banker. His pic
ture was taken by a man who had de-
frauded friends and associates in his
home town friend gained permits
sion to shake hands with him to say
good-by.
you see?" the repentant swindler
said. TT was money that got them all"