New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-06-11
Married and Prosperous,
He Admits Old Crime
TO Clear Conscience.
FUGITIVE FROM LAW
FOR MANY YEARS
COnfesses at BOWery Meeting
That He Was Convicted on
COmstock'S Charge.


Hicks paused in their rompng now and
then yesterday 10 wonder why their
mother was crying As evening ap-
preached Robert and Phoebe, the eldest
Of the trio. listened eagerly for IA
miliar trend on the steps outside or
their apartment, on the top floor OF %
Horatio Street, and when no football
reached their cars they asked why
papa" did not come.
"He has gone away" their mother
told them.
Hicks was in a cell on BlackwelPs
Island. The long struggle with him
self was over and his conscience had
trumphed. After being arraigned in
the United States court yesterday
morning he was taken to the peni-
Tertiary to begin serving a sentence
Of ten months imprisonment imposed
upon him thirteen years ago. Until
Yesterday he had been a fugitive from
justice.
Directors of the Bowery Mission, at
227 Bowery, and the halful of habitues
of that thoroughfare were startled at
the service held on the evening Of
Memorial Day, when Hicks, who had
become an assistant leader at the mis-
sion, made the confession That result
ed yesterday in his being placed in
prison.
Reveals Crime OF Past.
Thirteen years ago was convicted
in the Federal court and sentenced to
serve ten months in the Kings County
Pententiary, and to pay line OF
81 ,O0O," declared Hicks, who is about
sixty years old ana white-halred.
Pending an appeal, l was out on
bond. Anthony Comstock had the
prosecution of my case in charge. /
jumped my bail and have since been
fugitive from justice
Friends of the mission aid could
hardly believe their ears. He had pre-
viously told how he had only recently
turned from a dissoute life to one OF
Righteousness, but none suspected the
true nature of his past. In an even,
calm voice he continued:
"Parted from my family and
ostranged from my friends, relatives
and old associates, ! became a drunken
ortcast on the Bowery. Hopelessly
abandoned to despair and shame,
broken in health and mind, nothing
seemed left TO me but the grave, when
Jesus Christ came into my life, and as
a miracle lifted me up and restored
me 70 health, honor, family, friends
and business. C,-.
have nrospered. But at times have
not been happy. have fel that had
rot fulfilled my whole duty to God.
Whenever I have stood among you men
and told YOU of the glory of my me-
ubich the love Of God and His saliva
ton had made to shine on me, nave
beon conscious of offence. | have feit
that | had not told the whole truth.
was holding something back. | owed
/, TO God to tell all my shame ana 10
man the offering to serve the sentence
of his tribunal. -.
Tonight | can speak to you with
a conscience free from the guilt OIL
evasion and suppression. A. -
This morning | called up Mr. ION,
stock on the telephone and surrendered
myself 20 the authorities, ne con
tinued. Tomorrow ! may be on my
way 10 serve that sentence IN the hihgs
County Pententiary. have given
myself over to the will OF 900 uhcoh-
ditionally. and have surrendered my
self ~ the authorities without Dar-
gaining.
Family Believed in Him.
"Mv wife and children know nothing
If nv act. Through prayer God has
Guided me. Ny family needs me- my
friends here need me, my business needs
me. but if the law needs me more
urgently than these, | am ready TO
serve its sentence.
The Kings County Penltentiary is no
longer in existence. When Hicks stood
with his head bowed before Judge FOL
lock in the Federal Court all that ON
cial could do, although his sympathy
was with the repentant man, was 10
send him to Blackwell's Island. II Is
likely that he will not have to serve
his full term, however. for already
movement has been launched to request
President Wilson TO pardon him.
The arrest of Hicks occurred in 1903
for using the mails to carry on an
illecitimate business in medicines
When his rooms were raided Fedel
agents seized an immense quantity OF
prohibited drugs and nearly two tons
of printed matter that is banned by the
postal authorities. He was tried nd
sentence passed upon him, when he was
released on bail, pending an appeal OF
his case.
When he fed to Europe no effort as
made to force his bondsmen to forfeit
the bail. The entire matter was for
gotten. the records of his case were
packed away in storeroom IN he
Federal Building and Hicks might have
remained a free man until his death
had not his conscience driven him to
surrender. leaving his wife and LADIES
with hardly enough money to provide
for bare necessities.
Even Anthony Comstock was moved
to pity; .nnor g.
he declared. at is a remarkable e,
and. in fact, nothing quite like it has
ever come 10 my attention
The Society for the Suppression OF
Vice, of which Anthony Comstock is
secretary, has adopted reso luton
asking clemency for Hicks and for
ward it to the President. A petition
to which hundreds of names of mission
social and church workers are already
affixed is being prepared and when com,
pleted will be sent to the Federal Board
of Parole.
Besides being active in the bowery
A.. ILL. 81 4 d M .nlf 10 the