The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-01-04
Organizes Prisoners to Read
. Bible and Go to Church. I
CUT OUT PROFANITY AND PILLS
New Years Resolutions Among
Fire Department Members.
Lansing Inmates "Swear Or
on Many Old Habits.

John Moore. who went to the state
penitentiary for killing his wife be-
cause she persisted in going to church
Fegularly, has inaugurated a prison
reform and as q New Years resolution
has c..arted read-the- Bible move
sment. In addition to the resolution to
read the Bible every day, Moore and
his associates in the prison fire depart
ment have tabooed profanity. cigar
rites and use of violent language in
any manner and have agreed to at
tend prison chapel and church SER
vices regularly.
Last week Moore and his associates
sent to J. d. Botkin. warden Of the
prison, a statement that they had
adopted some New Years resolutions.
What was more, they made clear to
the prison head that the resolutions
the result of a genuine determination
TO reform. All of the twelve members
of the penitentiary fire department
subscribed to the resolutions which
were sent to the warden.
A few years ago, John Moore was
sent to the penitentiary for the murder
of his wife. The killing occurred in
Arkansas City. Moore's motive for the
murder was the fact that his wife per-
Sisted in going to church regularly. The
woman not only attended the Sunday
morning and evening devotional serv-
1CGS Out luSlolCo ON dttCAAuAH6 tAO w GU
hesday night prayer meeting. That
wasn't all. She belonged to the Ladies'
Aid society and kindred church organ
izations and she worked for religious
causes as much as her home duties
would permit. Moore didn't Hike it. Be-
ing a man who believed in free and
unlimited expression of opinions, Moore
told his wife what he thought. He
spoke rather discourteously about the
matter, too. In fact, it was asserted
II -
violent language that was not pleasing
to Mrs. Moore's earssSBut--2drs:- Moore
continued to go to church.
Found Guilty of killing Her.
One day Mrs. Moore was found dead.
Following an investigation Moore was
arrested At the trial OF the case evil
idence showed that Moore had quarreled
often with his wife because of her re-
7igious proclivities. 1t was the motive
Mrged by the state as the cause of the
KILLING. The jury found Moore guilty
and he was sentenced to life imprison-
Hnent. 80 - -. .
! Now Moore has had change of
heart. For, two Years he sat .stolidly
Through the prison scfQlsh chapel
the prayers and teac111ng4 ct Dison
chaplain. But when fen&5k c6xuicte
arose to confess their faith John Moore
booked straight ahead with cold, hard
sened eyes and refused to repent. For
two years Moore has served in the
prison fire department. And all that
time there has been a wonderful change
working in John MOOre's heart. At
least that is evident from the nature
of the fire departments New Years
resolutions.
1t was one day last week when the
Twelve members OF the prison fire
brigade were sitting In. the engine
house that John Moore proposed a
resolution. ~
I'm going to cut it. cissrettes.
cuss words. rough talk and an-I'm
going to turn over a page and see how
it goes" declared Moore. Eleven
members of the fire department join
ed with John Moore in his resolution
when the conference ended. And
then, just that the matter might be
strong and binding, a member moved
that the resolution include daily read
ing of the Bible and regular atten-
dance at church and chapel services.
And John Moore who had murder
in his heart when his wife persisted
In going to church. signed the pledge.