The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-10-26

biles. I heard in prison that the world
was moving faster; now l know It,
People seem to be more particular
In their dress and actions. The gen.
eral run of people look like they have
more sense than in my time That is
they look more Intelligent, especially
the women. Women look a whole lot
more business-like than When l went
to prison. l can't explain 1t very Well
but somehow it seems to be a different
sort of a world, doing things in diff
ferent way"
Taborn was taken through several
stores and there everything in turn
excited his wonder. 1t was a fairy
land for him. He said he was sure
the world had improved more than
twice as much in the 43 years since he
had seen 1t than in the 23 years he
had lived before he was sentenced. He
could scarcely believe his own senses
when he was taken to see the moving
pictures that talked" His eyes opened
in wonder as he talked to the warden
at the penitentiary over the telephone.
1t seemed that the old man would
never tire of seeing new objects He
stood for an hour watching the crowds
on the sidewalks.
After eating the first square meal he
had had for 43 years" 1t was with re-
luctanee that he climbed on the first cleo
illc cdi lie was ever on TO take 0ifl Dack
to Delaware, once his home, and where
he was convicted of killing man in a
quarrel over a mouth harp.
Later Taborn will go to Cass county,
Michigan, where he lived as a boy, and
he hopes to find some of his friends
there. Eventually he intends to go to
Hillsboro, n. c., where he has been prom
ised work at his trade of machinist. He
is also shoemaker but he will be unable
to work much at this trade because of
deformed finger, due to an accident in
prison.
Had Good Record
Taborn leaves the penitentiary with a
record. for good behavior that Is un-
equaled in prison history. During his
entire confinement he was not once re-
ported for breach of rules or misbehavior
of any sort. He asked but one favor
during his term, and that was during
the only time in which he was outside
the walls. Because of his age former
Warden Jones once took him to the
prison farm Is miles from Columbus, and
he was there for three days. At the
end of that time, though he was placed
Oh his honor and allowed the freedom
of the entire place. he asked to be taken
hack to the penitentary, because lit
seemed more like home, and it was too
lonesome in the country During his
uius to and from the penitentiary he saw
only little of the outskirts of the city.
When he left the pententiary finally
he asked if he would be allowed to come
back and live If he so desired. This is
not allowable under the law. He was
offered a pardon by Governor Harmon on
condition that he go to the Soldiers home
in Dayton and stay there, but he de-
clined He served two years in the Union
army as a drummer boy during the civil
war. He is still well preserved and his
sight is as good as ever. He made many
friends in prison, and as the confidant
of prisoners he probably knows the
straight story of many of them.
Because of his friendship In the prison
and the fact that he will probably find
1t hard to become accustomed to new
conditions, 1t is believed by the prison
authorities that it will not be long before
he will be back asking for a home there