The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1911-12-08
PARDON T
50 YEARS IN JAIL

Hartford, Conn.,, Dec. lannon's
the thirty-six %convicts at the state
prison at Wethersield. whose appli-
cation for parole or pardon will be
considered by the state board of par
dons when that board meets here
next Tuesday, is John Warren, the
Oldest inmate Of the prison, who has
spent ffty-two years of his life in that
penal institution. In the fall of 1859
John Warren was convicted Of the
murder of his wife and sentenced to
prison for life. He entered the state
prison at Wethersfield, Nov. IA, 1853,
and has remained isolated from the
outside world eve since. Several times
he appealed to the board of pardons
for his release, but in every case his
application was denied. This year he
has again petitioned for a pardon and
this time the board of pardons will be
less .obdurate.
Tho history Of warren's crime is
rather unusual. In the early summer
OF 1859, John p. Warren, then only
Fl years old, and his 1%S-year-old
wife lived on a small farm in Willing
ton. a little town in Tolland county, in
the northeastern part Of Connecticut.
On a warm morning OF July of that
year Warren and his: wife took a walk
in the woods. It was hot and when
they came to a brook not far from
their farm.' Warren proposed hat 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 con-
fessed the crime. has never given n
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
confessed his crime, but refused to
make any explanatory statement.
After a preliminary hearing, War
ren's case was set for the September
court. On the night of Wednesday.
Aug. 10. Of that year, while confined
in the Tolland county Jail, Warren
managed to obtain possession of a big
butcher knife. with which he attacked
Jailor Griggs. Warren managed to
escape. but was caught shortly after
ward in Eastford, near Willimantic.
The trial of Warren was short. The
prisoner pleaded guilty and his attor-
ney confined himself to a strong APP
peal for the life of his client. The
appeal was successful and Warren was
sentenced to imprisonment for life.
From the very beginning Of his term
in the state prison at Wethersford,
Warren was a model prisoner. He
obeyed the prison rules strictly, gave
no trouble to the warden and the 9TH
er officials of the prison and tried to
make himself as useful as possible UNI
der the conditions.
After q number of years the war;
den, who placed unusual trust in War;
rem. relaxed the rigor of the prison
rules to a great extent SO far as War
rem was concerned: The prisoner was
made gardener and for many years he
took excellent are of the flower gar
den of the prison and of the grounds
surrounding the official residence of
the warden.
When the present warden, Garvin,
came to Wethersfield prison about
years ago. he continued to al
low to 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
furnace Of the warden's residence and
made him a sort of general helper
about the house.
For many years Warren had the
privilege Of passing unchallenged
through the prison gates apd frequent
ly he spends all day outside of the 4
prison in the pursuance Of his garden
work, but v did he make an at
to escape or to violate in any
way the confidence which the warden
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 |
~ years Of ge. he Is still active and
energetic and looks scarcely more than
30. His hair is turning gray, hut he
but little and his step is elastic.
In use the hoard of pardons should
Warren. his two younger
brothers of Willimantic and his
nephews and cousins, all people of en-
,ellent standing in their respective
are prepared to take
are of the old man who. unless his
health should unexpectedly fail, seems
'ully able to take care of himself for
lome years to come.
N~@YY Avn ma ~ |