The sun., 1915-07-21
HICKS, CONSCIENCE
PRISONER, is FREE
Owned Up in Bowery Mission
That He Was a Fugitive
From Justice.
RETURNS TO HIS FAMILY

Robert r, Hicks owner OF printing
shop at cas- Hudson street. who startled
his friends by confessing at Bowery
mission meeting one sunday In June that
he was a fugitive from Justice and In
tended to give himself up so that he
could square accounts with the Govern
ment by serving a term OF ten months
to which he was sentenced thirteen years
ago for misusing the malls. was dis
charged from the Blackwells Island
penitentiary yesterday. President Wilson
commuted his Imprisonment and $1,000
fine on Friday last as soon as he heard
the story of the workings OF the mans
conscience, but formalities delayed the
arrival OF the discharge papers at
Warden Hayes's office until the first
morning mail. and Hicks got the order
to get ready to go Just as he was about
to leave his cell for a days work In
the penitentiary print shop.
Chcered by Prisoners A. He Left.
The news OF Hicks's confession to take
his punishment had sifted into the
prison, and when the printer stepped
forth in his street clothes cheer passed
from cell to cell. shouts We're still
heard as the printer walked down to the
landing TO board the little boat for
Manhattan.
Hicks went direct to his home on the
top floor OF so Horatio street, opposite
his printing shop. whero his wife and
the three babies were waiting. What
rappened then Is nobody's business. Mrs.
Hicks's struggle to look after the chill
dren and keep the printing business 60
ing while her husband was locked up
was hard one and resulted in fall
ure. She was obliged to shut up shop
on Monday because work didn't come In.
However. Hicks said the paddock
would come of the door the first thing
this morning and he would labor as
never before to build up good busi-
ness so that some day those babies will
have a nice little home In the country"
Mrs. Hicks frankly admits that this is
ner dream OF the future. She didn't
know Of the dark page In her husband 8
past until he made his public confess
sion. He Is a fine looking man OF 81
and is many years his wifes senior.
Takes No Credit TO Himself.
81 don't deserve any credit for CIV
| ing mysdf up after thirteen years lib
washed the dishes and the babies, two
girls and n boy. the eldest OF whom is
| I, slept Il simply had 10 do IL in Or
der to get peace OF mind,
II was convicted thirteen years ago
and Jumped my bail after I was SEN
fenced. 7 went to England and the firs'
three years were years of fear After
my return ] went into the Manhattan
, Gospel Mission on Manhattan street
10 nf ty,i, v
I. 1912. for the purpose Of getting bed
and got religion instead. As I came int ,
| the new life I began TO see things in a
new light and ] had to unload. 7 told
my story at the Bowery Mission after a
night OF prayer, without consulting my
wife. | believe that God directed me
what to do. On the following morning
I got Anthony Comstock on the phone
and told him that was Hicks and he re-
membered me. ] promised to give my
self M on the following Tuesday, but
he delayed my surrender until a late"
date. And then went to Jail.
II epent Just forty days on the Island.
It's strange how often that period OF
| forty DAYS is mentioned In the Bible.
, They were without doubt the happiest
| forty days Of my life | am no, ashamed d
that ] went there. | am ashamed ot
those days thirteen years ago"
| Gibed by Some Of the Prisoners.
While Hicks was on Blackwell c
Island some OF the prisoners referred
to him as Brother Hicks" and more
than once somebody posted a notice in
/ the corridor that 'the Rev. Mr.. Hicks
will preach tonight" The printer
, didn't hide his light under a bushel. and
| he succeeded in showing several men
the way lie left several Bibles be.
! hind him.
prison life 's doadening." said
| Hicks. "and | still feel in sort Of
daze. But when a man goes to Jail re.
] alizing that he has transgressed the law
, Of God and man he has absolutely II,
| complaint. The Jail was clean and tn,
food WAS fairG good. had charge OF
three small printing presses and don
| believe YOU could md a more SANITARY
printing Office anywhere, | wish | coulI
do something for the boys over there"
Hicks was editor and proprietor OF
small country papers In the West ami
South In his younger days. 1t IL prob
able that he will not speak at the Rowery
Mission. where he Is an associate leader
until Sunday night, as he says it is his