The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-05-16
WRIGHT IS FREE
Released From Prison After
Serving 20 Years.
Killed a COwley County Con-
stable in 1898.
PAROLE FROM GOV; HODGES
Was 10 Years Old When He
Went to Prison.
Stopped Off at Topeka on Way
Home to Shawnee, Okla.

! For the first time in nearly twenty
years. Morgan Wright last night slept
in real bed and as a free man. Not
since he was convicted in 1898 for the
murder of a Cowley county constable,
mas Wright known the meaning of a
nights rest in a real soft. downy bed
on sure enough feather pillows.
Wright came to Topeka last night
from Lansing, where he was paroled
thursday after nearly 20 years
confinement for murder. The man
came to Topeka because he didn't
know any better place to go and be-
cause he wanted to talk with Governor
Hodges and Sam Seaton, the parole
clerk. regarding his future. In the state
house today Morgan Wright told his
story to the governor, Seaton and State
Treasurer Earl Akers, who had taken
an interest in securing the mans re-
lease.
Bed Was Too Soft.
mo. I didn't sleep very well last
night" was the frank admission of
Wright when asked as to his first
nights rest outside the prison walls.
1T was the first real bed 1 have slept
in for nearly twenty years, you know.
Well, when 1 went to bed the mat
tress just went down and down.
thought it would go clear through
tn bed. 1t as so soft it made me ner-
vous and L laid there kind of still
until pretty near daylight before l got
to sleep. Awful funny feeling, it was
but 1 guess I will get used to it now
that I am free man again.
Then Wright told the state officials
of his crime and of the months and
years that his identity within the
prison walls was lost so far as the
public was concerned. Outside the
high walls Wright had no friends to
urge executive clemency and the man
stayed year after year without the
slightest promise of a parole or par
don until one day Warden Codding
took an interest in his case. 1t was
largely through Coddings efforts that
Wright's prison sentence was commut-
ed by Governor Stubs from life to rs
years. Then Governor Hodges took
an interest in Wright'S case and this
week granted the man a parole.
Was Boy When Convicted
81 was only 19 years old-just
boy, you know-when 1 was convicted
of murder. Thousands of times I have
thought that 1 would gladly die if
could only bring back that mans life
I haven't any grudge against the
courts or the officers. 1 ought to
have been sent to prison, but now I
think that have paid the penalty. L
never intended to kill anyone, I just
shot before I knew what I was doing.
My friend was about to be arrested
and when he handed me his revolver
and told me to shoot. I shot before I
knew what had happened"
The world seems strange and new
to Wright. For more than Is years he
never saw the outside of the Lansing
prison walls.
''The first day I was outside said
Wright, warden Cooding took me In
his autom obile to his sons farm. 1t
was the first time 1 ever rode in an
automobile and it was the greatest
trip I ever had in my life.
'sWhen L left the prison yesterday,
didn't know which way to turn or
what to do. It was all so new and
strange to me- Everyone seems so
busy and in such a hurry that I can't
quite understand it, even the school
children rush along the streets so fast
that I can't quite understand it. But
think if the world is such a busy
place, that there must be some place
for me and I am going to try to find
it,
State Paid Him $25.
In the state treasurer's office this
morning, Wright cashed his prison vou-
cher for s25 That is the balance due
the man for his 20 years as an inmate
of the penitentiary at a salary of three
cents a day. This money, together with
the new prison suit, handed to him as
he entered the warden'S office, repre-
sents the mans worldly possessions.
Wright is going to Shawnee, Ok, to
see his father. Then he will return to
Kansas. His work in the prison has
made of him a master timer and he
will probably follow that trade in the
future.