The Randall County news. (Canyon City, Tex.) 1908-1926, 1910-08-05
STIMSON-
CONOVER
By MARTHA V. MONROE
Copyright. 1910, by American Press
Association.

One night a man was brought before
the sergeant at the desk in a police
court charged with burglary.
Hello, Stimson," said the sergeant.
You turned up again? 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 a
burglary in Ben Warfeld's store. War
field had entered his place of business
with light and cornered a 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.
Warfield in court testified that while in
| pursuit Of the fugitive he had turned
and walked toward them. Undoubted-
| ly knowing he would be captured, he
hoped TO go by them unrecognized. But
| Warfeld had got a good look at him
In his store by the light he carried and
knew him at once The rest Of the
| evidence against the prisoner was fur
| nished by picture In the rogues' gal
| lery which, though ii was not fiat
tering likeness, was near enough like
him, taken with Warfield's evidence, to
convict him:
The prisoner claimed that he was
John Conover. a workman in foun-
| dry. His employers superintendent
was called to the stand and testified
that the man. under the name of Con
| over, had gone 10 work for the concern
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 WIS
sent 10 the penitentiary for seven
years. Before he started his wife came
to see him. acting Historically and de-
| claring that she and her children We're
starving. This only confirmed the YER
Ia, y
| one ever heard Of Stimson having had
wife and family. But the case was
decided, and there is too much work
before the courts except In the cases OF
those who have money to pay lawyers
and costs for little matter like that
to attract even attention.
One night three years later a man
was brought into the same sergeant as
had received Stimson, whereupon the
sergeant, who was facetious man.
said:
Hello. Stimson! You here again? |
haven't seen you for so long that
thought you'd reformed"
Pm not Stimson. My names Con-
over"
"Well. like that. I'D know that
mug of yours among thousand.
We've got you in the gallery. But
what did you say about being
"Conover?
"Yes-Conover. 1t seems to me the
names familiar Now ! remember all
about it. The last time you came in
here you tried the racket of mistaken
identity; said your name was Conover.
But hold on. You were sent up for
seven years. You couldn't get out this
early on good behavior. When did you
break jail?"
Sergeant" said the prisoner, chang
ing his tone, Il was clingin' TO Il
straw. and that remarkable memory OF
yours has broke it. Three years ago
you sent up an innocent man who look
ed like me, and this time | was think
in might possibly get off by claimin'
to be him. But 1t won't work"
The sergeant looked at the man,
greatly puzzled.
Did you do the burglary Conover
was sent up for" he asked.
Eyes, done it. They chased me
and all of a sudden heered 'em stop
The next day | sor in the Grim news In
the paper that a bloke as looked like
me was took. He's doin' my time now
IL you wasn't on to It I'd "a tried &c
you cops work things that didn't
Your memory foored me-"
The real Stimson went up, and il
time the real Conover came down. On'
night he walked into the station ant
stood before the sergeant. He was no
i recognized. Maddened by his impris
onment for an offense he had not com
mitted, deprived of the power TO worl
for his wife and children, he had at
tempted to escape, was caught and ha'
been treated with unusual severity
No wonder the sergeant didn't know
him. He had aged in appearance TWEEN