The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-11-15
Gov. Hodges Broke Rule and
Wrote . Parole.
THE WOMAN WEPT
The Baby Went to the Gov
errors Knee.
And the Combination Was Too
Much for Geo. Hodges.

ONO, ana won from the CuleI excCu.
tive a pardon for Henry o. Luck who
is serving a seven year term in the
state penitentiary for stealing q neigh
boris horse. At the state house today
it is claimed that the Luck case IL the
first instance in which the Democrats
governor has yielded to sentiment. And
in the case the mother and wife, un-
consciously assisted by the babe, made
their fight against big odds-and won.
, Luck went to the penitentiary near
ly a year ago for stealing horse in
| Ellsworth county. Once before the
Ian had served a prison term when
he did time for cattle stealing. Luck
was given an indeterminate sentence
indication that he would serve the
maximum term in view of his former
| prison record. Apparently there
wasn't a chance in the world for Luck
| to win clemency. But Luck's wife and
three babies still believe in the man
and they wanted him back home
where he could earn a livelihood this
! winter and keep the little family to-
gether. That was excuse enough, MIS-.
i Luck believed. for a visit to the COVER
nor's office to seek q parole or par
| don.
seaton Wouldn't Listen.
"Your husband is a second termer
| and under our rules we cannot grant
clemency. I won't recommend
parole" Parole Clerk Sam Seaton told
the 0emuE0 lltllc WO1AAoAA VIM SOL -
the governors office and asked II
there wasn't something that the gov
ernor or parole board could do Tor
her husband.
"But isn't there just something that
Won can do to send him home to us
this winter" pleaded Mrs. Luck.
Nothing that I can do" said Sea-
ton. who prepared to dismiss the mat
ter from his mind.
However" added the pardon clerk.
in an al afte gn1s1per might o So kn0"
That was the cue. Seaton had no
intention Of letting Mrs. Luck get by
him and into the private office OF
che governor. But his little after
statement was the salvation of the
Luck home.
She Saw the Governor.
"Oh YES. the governor. You will
let me talk to him-won't you:
asked Mrs. Luck as she looked plead
ingfv at the man who writes. several
hundred running feet OF Democratic
administration press dope each week.
Seaton said he didn't know. But he
would see.
A few minutes later Seaton re-
turned to the wOman's side.
"The governor will hear you." said
Seaton.
Then Mrs. Luck and five months
old Baby Luck were ushered into the
governors private office. There
were lines in the woman's face that
told the story of days of worry and
sorrow and the eyes were still damp
with the tears Of her disappointment
when Seaton refused to help her nus
band. But Mrs. Luck smiled through
her tears and held out a little gloved
hand to the governor as she entered
the office.
Il don't want to bother you long,"
said the little woman whose face car
ried the story of refinement that al
most made one forget her look OF DIS
tress Il just want to ask you to let
Henry come home. We have had
hard time the last year and I don't
know what we will do this winter.
There isn't anyone to go to, you know
and the children and need him..
Then the woman told OF her efforts
to keep the little home together and the
struggles she had encountered In the
care for three little ones-a boy OF IL,
a girl Of and the babe in her arms.
Henry did wrong, I know that"
pleaded the wife and mother. but he
was good to us. He made US a good
living and good home and we love
him."
Baby Pleads for Clemency.
AS the mother told her story. the baby
crawled down from the mothers lap
and waddled along the table to the
governors side. Governor Hodges. who
loves children, picked up the child and
held it on his knee. Then the babe
nestled up close to the governor and
crooned as only happy. healthy child
can do.
Governor Hodges sat looking out the
window as the mother finished her
story. And the baby. who will proba-
bly, never know the part she played
that day, stood on the governors knee
and ran her chubby fingers through the
executives head of rather sparse hair
and crooned again.
1T isn't in keeping with our policy
or because of your husband said the
governor, but for you and the baby
that am going to send Luck home.
AS long as Luck takes care of you, he
Will be free man. But If he falls
from grace. he goes back to prison"
Then the governor called a stenogra-
pher and dictated a pardon which
provided that Luck should report each
month to the Ellsworth county attor-
ncy. that he should turn his wages over
to his wife each Saturday night and
that he should remain sober and in
oustr1ous. An hour later the wife and
baby left for Lansing with the pardon.
Mrs Luck tried to thank the COVER
ner. but the words she used were not
naif as effective as the look from a
pair OF big blue eyes and the prattle Of
baby lips that talked back over the
mothers shoulder to the state execu-
office. @'e
HIS First Christmas Present.
And In the line Of sympathy pleas
came q letter from Arthur Patton who
wants pardon AZ Christmas prec-
ent. Patton has spent % years In pris-
on and has not known the meaning Of
a Christmas day Of freedom eince he
was years old. He has served time
IN the Industrial school. reformatory
ana penitentiary and never for q crime
greater than the theft OF Sc. Six
montns ago Patton was paroled and
% now working In Topeka.
i Patton'g nlea to fha Houarx,<,. T. An,eA