The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1913-03-18
SURPRISED
THE SHERIFF
Stranger Walks Into County
Jail Al Mansfield
And Asks That He Be Locked
Up At Once
Was A Parole viOIator And
Served II Years
h The Indiana State PenItel.
tiary
finally Got Wsrk But Nothing
To Eat
(Mansfeld News)

(Mansfeld News)
Sheriff Sheridan Carroll was con.
siderably surprised about o'clock
last evening while sitting in his ONCE
At the county jail when a stranger
walked into the place and insisted on
being locked up AZ q prisoner. The
man gave his name az James Stevens
and said that he 10 about 81 years Of
age. He stated that he was a parole
violator from the Michigan City, Ind,
state penitentiary and he desired to be
returned to that institution.
The sheriff at first thought the man
was simply down and out and was fix-
iag up a story 80 as to be kept and
fed at the Jail for few days and he
at Rrst refused to considtr 1t but after
the man told his story the official con-
cluded that he was telling the truth.
Theman said he had served already IL
years in the Indiana State peniten.
tiary for larceny and had been releas-
ed on parole. He said he was sent
ny from Columbus. Ind, for stealing
money from the Pennsylvania railroad
company but he was innocent Of the
charge. BY occupation he is a steam
filter. plumber and tool dresser. He
was released from the pen on parole
In October Of last year and he has
been tramping and bumming over the
country ever since in search of work
but he claims that he has never been
able to get work. Yesterday he land
ea in Mansfield and secured a job with
the Aultman 4 Taylor company. Hav.
ing found the job the next thing was
to get a boarding place. He declares
that he tried FIVE different boarding
houses but at each place. being un.
known and without any references, he
was required to put up money or se-
curity for his board in advance. When
he left the fifth boarding house with,
out getting an arrangement he be-
came discouraged and Respondent and
decided that the only thing for him to
do. was to give himself up as parole
violator and be sent back to the In
diana penitentiary where he would be
taken care OF. Accordingly the man
went to the county Jail and gave him.
self up to the sheriff.
ASa.. x.lyx;n.~ x.rlth shc n
few minutes Sheriff Carroll became
coavinced that there was something
II the mans story and locked him up
In jail At o'clock In the evening
The SherifI called the warden Of the
Indiana penitentiary on the long dis
taace telephone and asked for infor-
nation in regard to the man James
Stevens. The warden said he was not
personally familiar with the Stevens
case but requested the sheriff to hold
the man and he would look into the
matter and communicate with him
later. At 9 O'Clock in the evening the
sheriff received telegram from the
warden at Michigan City, Ind, asktne
him to hold Stevens and an ofiicer
wealA be sent here to take him back,
Stevens had already signified his will
iagness to 20 back without extradi.
uss papers. st, ~
When asked by the sheriff why he
AsA given himself up Stevens stated
dat he had met with 20 many disap.
polatments since being out Of the.pen
that he had taken TO drinking and he
aGured that he would be taken back
70 the pen and the drink would be
al out OF his system In about year.
when he would likely be allowed to
go again ON parole and he would then
have q fGir chance to try Il again.
He claims that he never applied for
work while under the influence Of
hqsor.
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