The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1911-12-07
ASKS PARDON AFTER
81 YEARS IN JAIL
John Warren, Uxorcide, Pc
titions Conn. Pardon
Board for Release.
National News Association)

HARTFORD, Conn, Dec. I.-AmOhe
the thirty.six convicts at the State
prison at Wethersfield. whose applica
lions for parole or pardon will be con
sidered by the State Board of Pardont
when that board meets here next Tues
day. ia John Warren. the Oldest in
mate OF the prison, who has spent fiji
ty-two years of his life in that pena
institution. In the fall of 1859 JohL
Warren was convicted OF the murder
Of his wife and sentenced to prison fol
life. He entered the State prison al
Wethersfield November IA, 1859 and
has remained isolated from the out
side world ever since. Several times
he appealed to the Board of Pardons
application was denied. This year he
has again petitioned for a pardon and
his friends confidentially expect that
this time the Board Of Pardons will be
less obdurate.
The history of Warren's crime is
rather unusual In the early summer
of 1859 John p. Warren. then only
twenty-one years old. and his 1S-year
old wife lived on a small farm in VIII
ington, a little town in Tolland coun
ty. in the northeastern part Of Con
necticut. On q warm morning in July
OF that year Warren and his wife took
q walk In the woods. 1t was hot and
when they came to a brook not far
from their farm, Warren proposed that
they take off their shoes and stockings
and battle their feet in the cool waters
of the brook. His wife consented and
having taken off her shoes and stock
ings. waded into the brook.
Warren sprang at her, threw her
down and held her head under water
until his wife was dead. Just what
fury or passion animated Warren and
prompted him to commit the cold
blooded and apparently unprovoked
crime, has never been ascertained
Warren himself, although he confess
ed the crime. has never given any ex'
PLANTATION of his action or the motive
Of the deed. He secreted the body OF
his wife in the woods, where 1t was
soon found. Warren was arrested and
put through the Third Degree. He con-
fessed his crime, but refused to make
any explanatory statement.
After a preliminary hearing War
ren's case was set for the September
term of the Holland County superior
court. On the night OF Wednesday,
August, 10, of that year, while confin'
ed In the Holland county jail, Warren
managed to obtain possession OF big
butcher knife, with which he attacked
Tailor Griggs. Warren managed to es.
cape, but was caught shortly afterward
in Eastford, near Willimantic.
The trial of Warren was short. The
prisoner pleaded guilty and his attor'
ney confined himself to strong ap-
peal for the life of his client. The ap'
peal was successful and Warren was
sentenced to Imprisonment for life
From the very beginning of his term
in the State prison at Wethersfield
Warren was model prisoner. He
obeyed the prison rules strictly, gave
no trouble to the warden and the other
officials of the prison and tried to
make himself as useful as possible un'
der the conditions.
After a number of years the warden
who placed unusual trust in Warren,
relaxed the rigor of the prison rules
to q great extent SO far as Warren was
concerned. The prisoner was made
gardener and for many years he took
excellent care of the flower garden Of
the prison and OF the grounds sur
rounding the official residence OF the
warden.
When the present warden, Garvin
came to Wethersfield prison about
fourteen years ago, he continued to al
low Warren the privileges which the
former warden had granted him and
not only retained him as gardener, but
also placed him in charge of the fur
mace of the warden's residence and
about the house.
For many years Warren had the
privilege of passing unchallenged
through the prison gates and frequent
ly he spends all day outside Of the
prison in the pursuance Of his garden
work. but never did he make an at
tempt to escape or to violate in any
way tuc WulOu lAO wal uCu
of the institution had placed in him
The comparative freedom which he
enjoyed, had a beneficial effect upon
Warren's physical and mental condi
ton. Although he is. now more than
seventy-two years of age. he is still
active and energetic and looks scarce
~ more than fifty. His gair is turn
Ing gray, but he stoops but little and
his step is still elastic.
In case the Board Of Pardons should
release Warren, his two younger broth
ers Of Willimantic and his nephews
and cousins. all people of excellent
standing in their respective communi
ties. are prepared to take care Of the
old man, who. unless his health should
Unexpectedly fail. seems fully able te
take care of himself for some years
to come.
The cooperative system of handling
the apple crop Of Nova Scotia hal
proved . decided success. The bene
fit Of cooperative packing secures 8
reputation for apples thus put up.