The Washington herald., 1910-04-15

New York, April H-Robert Underwood
Johnson. editor of the Century, has ap-
pealed to the Minnesota State board Of
pardons in behalf of poet who IS serv-
ing ten years in the prison at saltwater
for burglary.
Mr.. johnson said to-day that he doesn' I
indulge in sentimental nonsense where
convicts and crimes are concerned. but
that this particular convict Is a genius.
and 1t doesn't seem right to keep a
genius penned up for stealing S2l. when
he was homeless, cold, and hungry.
The prison name Of this poet-convict is
John Carter It is not his real name
only a nom de guerre. The real name is
known only TO few people with whom
the young man has corresponded; most
of them editors Of magazines who have
bought his poems Mr.. Johnson hoped
that the name would not come out. be-
cause its divulgence might handicap the
poet later on when he is freed
Sends Poem TO Editor.
Several weeks ago Mr.. Johnson found
in his mail Il poetic Offering which was
signed John Carter" The poem was
entitled. Con Sordini." (with muted
strings) and it was accompanied by a
letter to the editor, which said frankly
that the author was in the saltwater
Peniteniary. John Carter" hoped that
the fact would not prejudice the editor
1t didn't As a matter OF fact. the cir
cumstance sharpened the editors interest.
He observed instantly, he says. that the
poem had unusual merit, beautiful express
sion. feellng-in short. it vas a bit Of
fine art. He printed il in the April num-
Der of the magazine with a footnote ex-
planning the peculiarly Of the case.
Il received" said Editor Johnson to
night. "a number Of letters from literary
friends whose judgment I value highly.
All OF them were enthusiastic in their
praises Of Con Sordinl' and the author
Some OF them wrote that they were car
rying the poem around in their pockets.
showing it to friends"
F Mr.. Johnson was so much interested
that he wrote to John Carter in prison.
Presently he got an answer. a long let
ter. which was phrased in a way that
struck the editor as frank and manly.
He didn't whine. he didn't complain,
he didn't beg" said Mr. Johnson. He
wrote the story OF his experience as
simply as it could have been done.
Tells Touching story.
In 1904, when he was a boy Of nine
teen. ne was penniless and homeless. He
was beating his way on a freight train
one night in November and the brake
man threw him off in a snowdrift AZ the
little station Of Karlstadt. Kittson
County. A1inn. He was freezing and so
weak from want of food that he was
just able to stagger along. He managed
20 get into the depot, and he robbed the
Office Of S24
lie was caught. and six months later
was convicted OF burglary and sent TO
the penitentiary for ten years Shortly
after entering the prison ne began to
write. They published a weekly paper IN
the saltwater Prison called the Prison
Mirror. and at first his contributions were
printed I'm H. Later, he wrote poems for
The Bellman. magazine published IN
Minneapolis. one Of his poems which
appeared in the 'BeIlman' was called LUX
.et Tenebris' He wrote also for news
papers in ST. Paul. and. think. in St
Louis
Occasionally he used the nom de plume
'Anglicus;' az other times he signed John
Carter Harper's Weekly published a
poem Of his in March which attracted
some attention
Il wrote to the board that there was q
genius whom it was a shame to confne
1 expressed the opinion that if-he were
released now he would make, in all prob
ability. a great name for himself From
the board Of pardons I received the usual
official perfunctOry reply, which said that
the appeal would be considered. have
heard nothing further"