The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1912-03-19
THE DIFFICULTY
EX-CONv|CTS
Have to Keep Out of Jail.
Many Railroaded to Pris
, on and Convicted For
The Crimes of
Others.

an ex-convict to keep out of Jail. They
go back to Jail for crimes with which |
they have no connection Just because I
suspicion readily attaches to them |
after they have once seen the interior ,
of prison walls. Jurles that other
wise might require stronger evidence
are ready to accept the most flimsy.'
Billy McQuero, a stocly grey-hair-
ed individual sat in the office Of the
Living Mission on the Bowery. Day
after day, Billy listens to the stories
of the ex-convicts who drop in at the
little mission and then he tries to re-
form them.
"The stories these fellows have TO
tell are enough to keep you awake
every night. They would keep me
awake only I've lived the same storyi
myself. John Hollis had to leave this
mission because Of the strain Of nine
years spent in trying to help the fell
lows along the bowery to their feet
What ugliness and hatred they feel for
the society that sends them to prison
for crimes uncommltted, is kept in
their souls and not often put In
words" said McQuero.
Suspicion readily attaches itself to
an ex-convict. When a fellow once
gets a shove downward. seems as
though he can't get on his feet again.
There's always somebody there with
the push but it's generally
the wrong wayl Then too. there's the
Police Department whose business is
to send men to Jail. Something hap
pens the cops get busy and round up
all the fellows they know have done
time There maybe flaw in the alibi
OF several Whether they know any
thing about the crime or not. they are
rushed or 10 Sing Sing.
"One crime is as good as another
to go to Jail for. A professional thief
Of the middle class thinks he is do
ing we'll to have a run of year
without going to Jail.
"Many a poor fellow has been rail-
rocded to prison Remember that case
of Owncy Brune who was supposed TO
be the leader of the Whyo gang.
Owney wasn't a crook. though he new
Ell had chance to he anything else.
zone day he was in store next
door to saloon. playin' cards, |
| 7
meeting the two places to ask the bar
keeper to lend him S5 He was re-
fused and went back to the card
tah'c Just then. the barkeeper fell
with a bullet In his groin. Owney step
pea out of the hall. The police nab.
bed him He was sentenced to sever
and half in Sing Sing
"Owney didn't shoot the bartender
He comes in the class OF ex-convict,
because he was suspicious character
The man who fired that shot Is in tn
Living Waters Mission today. He'
stra ght. I'm not giving his nam
away for reasons enough.
Joe Burns was truck driver il
tho Eighth ward He wasn't pro
fessional thief. But anyway, he asso
ciated with thieves. There was bur
giary in King street in q woman
apartments. Joe was arrested am
seryed about eight years. for tina
crime. Before he was released /
was found that the woman's two son
had done the work themselves. The
were sent up, | think for some 10
In another connection.
Burns tried to keep straight afte
being released but drifted naturall
into the old surroundings. Will
walking home one night. woma
with him stumbled over the foot Of
saloon keeper who was fastening dow
the cellar door with clamp. Th
saloon Keeper who was known 10
his terrible temper, sailed into 10,
He was big fellow. Joe was slight
He was beating Joe numerically whe
, Joe pulled knife and stabbed hir
In the abdomen. Joe disappeareC
Positive il was a case OF self defens,
Joe surrendered to Inspector Nc
I.aughlin.
"The saloon keeper recovered bu
caught cold and died. Joe was sen
fenced to twenty years for mar
fslaughter. / believe that If Joe ha
not been an ex-convict, he would hav
5 been freed"