The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1910-11-25
TOUT PRISON
UNLESS PUT OUT
AGED CONVICT IN MAINE PAR.
DoNED, BUT HE REFUSES TO
LEAVE HIS OLD HOME.

Boston, Mass, Nov. 25-J. C. Farr
persistently refuses to leave the Maine
penitentiary at Thomaston, though he
has been pardoned. and his friends are
considering the possibility Of having
him put out.
Farr was given a life sentence
twenty-nine years ago fer killing his
wife, whom he had found in the COM
pany Of another man. The sentence
was considered severe and Farr and
his friends hoped that a pardon could
be obtained after few years. For
twenty mine years, it is declared, the
prisoner went about his tasks in the
prison waiting only the great day
when the gates should swing open for
him.
Seldom in the Maine penitentiary
has there lived prisoner whose life
has been one so exemplary in conduct
as Fairs, and that because such con-
duct might mean his freedom.
Recently the great day arrived. The
old man himself played an earnest
part in the plea that was presented to
the governor by the warden, the prison
staff. and many others who had long
ago learned to respect No. 2516
Receives Pardon, but Stays.
The morning dawned wnen friends
in the shape of pardon signed by the
governor was handed to the warden
and then placed in the trembling and
eager hands of John Farr.
In all his prison existence no oc-
casion had ever paralleled that, and
convict 2,516's face showed his joy.
And then occurred a strange and
unaccountable perversion of human
desire when. with freedom won, John
Farr turned away from the proffered
liberty and elected to remain an in
mate of the prison.
Today be is still there, though free.
He is playing his part in the routine
Of the penitentiary. Day after day he
is eyed with amazed curiosity by the
scores Of fellow beings around him.
Some are his old friends, but to
them Farr explains only that he does
not wish to go.
He is treated with the utmost kind
ness by the warden and the keepers.
The prison is his home and Farr de-
clares that he prefers 1t to any other
in the world.
Fears Life Outside.
II am grateful indeed to those who
have helped me to secure my pardon"
he says. No one is more sorry than
/ for the crime committed in moment
OF passion, for which twenty nine
years imprisonment might be consid-
cred a reasonable atonement.
But what does the world which I
left SO many years ago mean to man
of my years so long separated from IT.?
Would know how to conduct myself?
Why should I go back to place
where there are RACES and jealousies
innumerable: and where ones sup
posedly best friend--sometimes even
ones wife or ones bosom friends turn
out in the end to be ones worst enemy.
There is little to tempt an old man
into the outside world when already
his dwelling Ii the abode OF peace.
Here find myself surrounded by
men whose main aim 1t is to conduct
themselves in a model manner. Few
OF them are really bad at heart Their
seem to be principally the
result OF circumstances and their sur
roundings. Many OF them make as
firm, steadfast friends as one could
wish for, friends who remain true
thick and thin.
Now Among Friends.
1T is true that have friends out
side the prison who have promised to
see that + never come to want, as I |
told the governor when asked for q /
pardon, but my friends In the prison /
are much more numerous. and so / /
have elected to stay with them.