The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1915-05-05
'PAROLED Y.
MEN AIDED
BY 0AKMAN
Sheriff Helps Exon
victs from Indiana
Make Good
DON'T GET JOBS
PROMISED HERE
Official Cares for Them,
Preventing Them
Being "Vagged"

Here is q little story about prison
reform, although the five men about
whom 1t is written probably don't
know just what this prison reform
business is ell about. All they
seem to think about just now is
that it's mighty fine to be out in the
open again; enjoying freedom. and
tbat II WIN be mighty bad for them
II they have to 60 back to the re-
formatory In Jeffersonvillc, Ind. as
parole breakers.
The Ave men-three Negroes and
two whites-were released from JET
fersonville last Thursday. It seems
that the Indiana reformatory sys-
TEN OF parole provides that pris-
cner cGn be given mis- freedom on
probation. providing there Is a Job
ewsiting him.
An extensive construction project
was started just outside Detroit. and
the work had TO be rushed. An In.
diana farmer hired out his teams,
and he wanted men to drive them.
He appealed to the reformatory.
The three Negroes and two white
men were eligible to parole. From
the meager earnings Of prison larNr.
each had saved about $40. They
were given their freedom, on the
stipulation that they go to Detroit.
take the interurban car to the con-
struction project, and go to work.
Eager to start life anew, they
FASTENED TO Detroit and then to the
suburbs where the work Is In prog
ress. They saw chance 10 work,
and be free. like other men. Then
came failure. Jobs? They were
told there were none there. And as
for the "ex-cons" from Jeffersonyille,
those in charge hadn't heard of
them, they said. The paroled pris.
oners. with only little money left.
returned to Detroit, dazed at first.
but not entirely discouraged. They
searched for work, couldn't find II,
and then decided to spend their last
money for rooms, so that they
couldn't be Gagged" for hanging
about the streets at night.
Being "vagged" meant that they
would go hack to Jacksonville, to
finish up their bit" SO the black
men and the white, held together by
common object in life-to regain
positions OF respect in society--rent.
ed cheap rooms. close together. for a
few days, They hunted for work
Saturday. wished for meals on sun
day, and Mondsy morning. one OF
the white men, more int lligent
than the others, threw his compan-
ions in panic. He had 1een sitting
On curb, thinking. He said:
Say, II we don't get those jobs
We came after. remember what the
warden said. Amt that vi'lation OF
the parole?"
The jobs in question, ~ course,
couldn't be gotten. Seemingly. there
we're no other jobs. either. So they
held council Of war. TIE best
thing that could be done. they de-
oided, was TO look up warden or
some such person In Detroit. End OK.
plain that they didn't really want 10
violate their paroles. but hadn't any
ether way out of II.
Five solemn.visaged mon trooped
into the Office of Sheriff Milton Oak
man, In the county building. Mon.
Gay afternoon. They had long
talk with the shcriff. II all centered
about the fact that they wanted to
go straight, and did not want the
warden in Jacksonville 70 drag
them back 10 prison again because
they did not get the jobs they came
for. or course, they had no place
TO eat end no place 10 sleep, but they
would do their best, and
We'll, boys, you can go over to
the jail for dinner and III SEQ"
The sheriff got no farther. One
OF the Negroes murmured a prayer
full. "Lawdy. Mister The other
seemed 20 sink at the knees. And
the white men looked as = they