The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1916-06-02
Ohio Prisoners Attribute Their
Downfall TO Drink.
THE WORK OF LICENSED RUM
Prisoners In P~snitsntiary Write De-
clarino That the Saloon Caused Their
Troubles-A Sorry Story Of the State
Participating In the Ruin Of Her Own
Citizens.

Cincinnati.-A number OF %cOnyicts
serving time In the Ohio state peniten-
tiary have written to X. A.. Mack OF this
city attributing their own downfall to
the saloon and appealing to the people
10 vote Ohio dry at the next election
IN order to save others from being
caught in the licensed traps.
Among the letters are the following:
My Dear Sir-in reply to your request
as TO my being In the penitentiary. l de-
sire to say that drink was my downfall.
/ am thirty-nine years Of age. ! killed a
man while drunk and since being confined
l have lost my father and mother. who.
no doubt. died OF broken hearts. My term
is six years. I have been paroled twice
and each time brought back through
drink. / trust that the state will go dry,
for nearly all the prisoners are In here
through drink. I am white.
CHARLES A. SMITH.
No. 3a,42.
Dear Friend-I am In here for larceny.
committed while drunk | have a wife.
who always begged me not to drink. but
the saloon keepers lured me into their
places until became a victim; my fam
ily is broxen. and | trust the people will
vote Ohio dry.
am a white man. My father and
mother are both dead. no doubt from
grief over me-.
This il my second trip to prison. and
both times l came from drink.
1 hops tina the people will vote Ohio
dry for our sake.
ADAM BALHEICH.
No. 4eaD6.
My Dear Friend-I am writing you to
- A. s. ALa
Ohio penitentiary through drink. My
brother Walker and myself came here for
robbery. while the other brother. William.
while drunk. beat a man and pleaded
guilty to assault with intent to kill. We
all three came here the same day. and
our poor mother Is dependent upon her.
self. The whisky that caused Us to COM
nit the crimes was from Cincinnati.
Don't bekeve In this homo rute whisky
or personal liberty league. 1t Is 4 fake
and causes all the trouble to the world.
Vote dry for our sake and for other un-
fortunate mer.
HARVEY WEBSTER.
WALKER WEBSTER.
WILLIAM WEBSTER.
My Dear Sir-I desire to state that I
was convicted In Hamilton cousty for
murder and am serving a life sentence.
l have been here two years. l am a
Htdt ~ n HdN0 u VII 0JA CHiti.
who are compelled to earn their owr
living.
Ii II had not been for drink I would
not be In the penitentiary.
This is what the vets Of Cincinnati cali
the home rule and personal liberty.
Vote Ohio dry for our sake.
ERNEST ARMSTRONG.
Dear Sir-I ara here for Of
my family. When l did not drink ! sup
ported thew. but as soon az I took to
drinking l became Quarrelsome. abusive
and neglectful. | trust all will vote Ohio
dry and help tho weaker.
JOHN STEWART.
My Dear Sir-1n answer to your request
Will say I am in the Ohio peNitcntiary for
life on account Of drink. White drunk l
assaulted q child Of twelve years OF age.
am 4 white man thirty three years Of
& 4. Ii II was not for drink / would to-
day b. . free man. l did not know what
l was doing when I coInMttted the crimS
In Colnynhvs. O. I ~ now been con-.
hnsd seven years and would lov to Be
out In Gods freah air, but drink has
bitghted my hopes. Vote Ohio dry Tor
others' sake. CHARLES GREEN.
No. 3B34i.
Dear Ft1end-I killed = mar Ia Uncin-
natl while druak. and ! was compelled
to come to the Ohio penitentiary for ten
years. have = wKe a enc child.
and they dspeaAed on me for sup
port. Tits u terrible to b shut up on
account q drink. and ret he saloon keep
Or cams this pSrsOnal ltNsrty. May God
help t. PUT It in your hearts t. vote ohio
dry. l am sixty years Of & md would
love to Be with my wtfe n baby. Your
1rtead. JAMES CHAPMAN.
No. asst.