The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1914-05-26
NEEDS CHANCE
(Continued from Page ~

NSOuIluuCO k1OU 06O AZ
began Kroma. II had been out Of a
job in Dayton for three months, but l
kept away from booze all the time
and reported every day to the chief of
detectives. Each day l made the
rounds Of the shops and other places,
but there wasn't no work.
Stunned Richmond.
II didn't want to come back to Rich
mond and meet the same old gang,
good fellows they call themselves,
but my worst enemies, but l thought
to myself, there is always job In
Richmond and l came back. But 1t
was as bad here as in Dayton. I'm
good moulder, but there was nothing
for me to do in that line. Then l
finally got job with transfer COM
pany-the worst place for me to work,
for the fellows were mostly all booze
fighters and members of the same old
crowd l used to train with. But had
to have something to do.
Then one night l started out with
some of them. They asked me to have
drink. l said no and they give me
the laugh and showed me into saloon.
Herman Is gettin' proud and thinks
he is better than some of his brothers.
i
wasn't proud and to be good fellow
I'd take a drink l took glass OF
beer the first booze in long while.
Well, I got drunk and pretty soon
met a guy who said he was rug sales
man. He had pint of Whiskey and
we took a few sips. l followed him
out back of a saloon and there was
horse and rig. He unhitched the
horse and helped turn the buggy
around and l climbed in and we drove
away. l woke up near West Alexand-
ria and the fellow was gone.
Arrested at Dayton.
81 knew then that I was in for it. l
knew the cops knew l had been living
in Dayton and they would at once
have me arrested. They watch us
| fellows like hawks. The short time l
was in Richmond was arrested on
suspicion for something l knew moth
ing about and was turned loose, then
| they pinched an Italian and slated him
as Herman Kroma' until they found
out the man wasn't me. So when got
| into West Alexandria I decided to sell
the rig, take the money and go as far
away as l could. But l couldn't make
the sale. They got me when l got to
! Dayton"
Kroma then related how in his youth
he ran the streets wild, the associate
of the worst characters in Richmond,
with no one to take a friendly interest
in him; how at sixteen years of age
he and a negro-exconvict stole a horse
and how he was sent to prison without
being given another chance" because
of first offense" Leaving prison
! with the idea that society was his
enemy, without a soul to aid him, he
soon drifted back to the reformatory
this time for stealing junk. He was
finally released on parole and went tC
South Bend. The foreman of a shop
there accused him of being an ex
convict and he quit the job. Then he
worked for a farmer until the latter
discovered he was harboring a mar
with a prison faint, so he FINALLY wen1
to Dayton with the consent of the re
formatory officials. He obtained EN-
plOyment there as a mOulder anC
worked until the latter part Of Decem
Der when the force was laid off. 'Ther
for three months l walked the streets
hungry most of the time, hunting {
job but keeping straight" explained
kroma, land it's hard work to keel
straight when you are broke and hun
cry
Father Worthless.
AROMA S 1dtner was worthless
man. An inmate Of soldiers hom'
most of his life he utterly neglecte,
his family and the mother and the tel
,, children were left to shift for them
selves with the result that the mothe
once attempted to commit suicide, bu
, recovered and is now a respected RESI-
dent of the community in which sh
lives; that Fred Kroma served a tern
in prison for a most revolving offense
that Henry Kroma served time 70
l highway robbery; that Herman serve
, two terms on larceny charges; tina
Rudolph at a tender age was sent t
:. the Plainfield reform school and tina
Gus and Charlie established ia
Il records One son, George and tire
! girls escaped the curse which appeal
J. ed to pursue this unfortunate famil.
but man almost had his head seve
p ed by jealous lover of one of tn
girls.
Herman is right when he says h
never had a chance, and l believe b
might make good if he ever got one
Dy,,nn fo cd nffioar