Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1910-08-10
STIMSON-
CONOVER
BY MARTHA V. MONROE
Copyright. 1910. by American Press
Association.

One night man WAS brought before
the sergeant mt the desk in police
court charged with burglary.
Hello. Stimson." said the sergeant
You turned UP again: l haven't seen
you for SO long that thought you'd
reformed"
I'm not Stimson," replied the man.
who WAS dressed in working costume.
"and I've never been here before"
Take him in
The next morning the case came up
before the court. There had been Il
burglary in Zen Waricld's store. War
Geld had entered his place of business
with a light and cOrnered man rob
bling his cash drawer. The robber
knocked him down and ran. The store
keeper got up. followed, called police
man. and together they made chase
Wariield in court testified that while in
pursuit of the fugitive he had turned
and walked toward them. Undoubted-
~ knowing he would be captured. he
hoped TO so by them unrccogniZed. But
Wardeld had got good look at him
in his store by the light he carried and
know him at once. The rest OF the
ui>hcd by picture I'm the ro.ucS' yil-
,ery which, though it was not aai
tcring likeness. was ncar rnuu.i HE
him, taken with WarGold's evidence 20
convict him.
The prisoner claimed that he va.
John Conover. 4 Workman in roun
dry. His employers superintendent
was called 10 the stand and testified
that the man. under the name of Con
over, had gone to work for the concern
Il week before claiming that he had
not been employed for some months.
That was all the witness knew about
him.
Being an old offender. Stimson was
sent to the penitontiary for seven
years. Before he started his wife came
10 see him, acting Historically and de
clnring that she and her children were
starving. This only confirmed the yer
dict. though it excited sympathy. No
one ever heard Of Stimson having had
wife ana family. But the case was
decided. and there Is too much work
before the courts except I'm the cases Of
tLnsc who have money 10 pay lawyers
TO attract even attention.
ono night three years later man
was brought into the same sergeant us
had received Stirlson. Whcreapon the
sergeant. who was Il facctious man.
said:
"Hcllo, Stimson. You here again?
haven't seen you for so long that l
thought you'd reformed"
I'm not Sdmson. My names Con
over"
"Well. l like that. I'd know that
mug Of yours among thousand.
We've got you in the gallery. But
what did you say about beiug'-
"ConovcrT'
"YcS-ConOvcr. 1t seems to me the
names familiar. Now remember all
about il. The last time You came i'm
here YOU tried the racket of mistaken
/ identity; said your name was ConovCr
/ But hold on. You were sent up ful
seven years You couldn't get out thi.
/ early ON good behavior When did yo,
break iailE"
"Sergeant.' said the prisoner. chang
Ing his tone. Il was c!ing'n' To ;
straw. ard that remarkable memory 81
yours has broke it, Three years a-t
you sent up an innocent man who look
ed like me. ana this time / was thiuk
in l might possibly get Oh by claimin
TO he him. But II won't work"
The sergeant looked ut the man
greatly puzzled.
did you do the burglary Conove
was sent up for?' he asked
YES, done it, They chased me
and all of a sudden hcercd EN- stoT
The next day sor IN the Grim news il
the paper that a bloke rs looked Xix
ME WAS took. He's doin' my time now
If YOU wasn't on to it Ia Il tried {
prove was him No credit To the wa
you cops work things that | didn't
Your memory i0Ored me.
The real Stimson went up. and i
time the real Conovcr came down On
night he walked into the station an
stood before the sergeant. He was nO
recognized Aaddencd by his impri,
onment for an oGcnsc ne had not con
United. deprived Of the power TO wor
for his wife and children. he had Il
tempted TO escape. was caught and Ia
been treated with unusual severit.
No wonder the sergeant didn't kno'
him. He had aged in appearance twci
~ years.
"Who are you:" asked the sergeant
John COuOver."
Used us he WAS TO the hard side
life. the sergeant started
Are you sure I'm not StimSonT
Il had nothing 10 do with your cas-
the court did it, You were uuror;una'
| i'm lo,f-in.s like. "a iaslifrd