Abbeville progress. (Abbeville, Vermilion Parish, La.) 1913-1944, 1913-07-05
ARTIST Thief DYING.
Genius, Who Is Burglar, Nears
End in Prison.
William Dunn Cared For by Ne"
York Salvation Army, But Yie'os
to the Lure Of Crime-Wins
Governors Notice.

Nav York.-Word comes from Dan
penoora prison that William Dunn ar
list by temperament, burglar anu
bighwayman because, as he salu' ho
could not control his impulses to"aiu
crime Is dying there. OF tuberculosis
IA IA common with sufferers from that
disease. his mind at every rally JULIUS
castles for the future. all based on an
honest life: but Doctor Ransom tne
hospital physician. says the last s'aee
has been reached and he may ule any
day.
MANY families in the upper part oil
the city have on their walls examples
of Dunn's art. Although uninstrucIeu
in any school, he had the knack VI
reproducing familiar objects in faitn-
full likeness, and his pencil and Drush
earned him an easy living Wneh he
chose to employ them.
He would paint roses, LOOKING DIS
IL fresh picked, on a common 'nin-
wood holder, the kind on which put
ter is trayed. and they were eagerly
bought Whenever he tried more last
ing work purchasers seemed almost
equally eager to buy at better prices
He never lacked a market when ne
wanted II, but he has spent twenty
one OF his thirty-seven years IN prison.
due to his inability to resist the lure
of crime.
In prison his work has been as pro-
life as circumstances would permit
The keepers have let him Keep pen
ellis In his cell and sometimes colors
There was no market there, and when
he ra6e his sketches he gave then,
freeiyl to other prisoners. one OF
them. 4 picture in colors OF the VIZ
gin. Was retained by the warden. VINO
framed it and hung it in the prison
chapel
Il attracted the attention of Gov
ernor pix on a visit to the prison
shortly before the end of his term o.
Office. When Warden Kaiser In
formed him that a prisoner had paint
ed II the governor said he would nK'
TO see aim. Dunn was brought Tor
ward. His disease had already marke'
him.
did you paint that picture?" tn
governor asked.
81 did," Dunn replied, timidly.
You are too good a man to be Il
JAIL" the governor said. "and vii
see that you get out"
Other affairs must have driven tn
incident from the governors mind, 10
nothing came Of it.
Dunn began his present term OF te
years In Dannemora In November
1911. For some time before that b
had occupied a basement room In tn
Salvation Army employment agenc
in Thirteenth street west OF Sixt
avenue, where Envoy Thomas Ande
son. who looks after discharged an
parpled prisoners. had fitted him OF
with working material
Every night Anderson took the day
collection of sketches and colors
meetings where he spoke. told Il
story Of the prisoner who was tryir
to get on his feet and let the audien'
carry the work away, leaving for
whatever money they liked. Good I
turns were coming In daily by tn
means when. suddenly and witho
warning. Dunn failed to appear In b
basement studio. On Anderson's re
ular visit 20 the Tombs the next +
day Dunn was there.
what was the natter" the env
asked.
Il couldn't help It; I always to
you l couldn't help It," Dunn q
swered.
Weren't you doing well. and did
we treat you nicely!"
Yes: must be insane" said Dun