The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1916-01-08
STUDENTS HELP A CONVICT
California Prisoner Studying by Mail
Expects to Become a Salesman
When Term Ends.

II. Austin, better known as No.
27378 among his companions in San
Quentin, Cal, is a student of the Uni
versity of Kansas despite the fact that
he is serving six and a half years be-
hind thick walls two thousand miles
from Mount Dread. No. 27378 is half
way through a course in craftsmanship
given under the direction of the ex-
tension division at K. U. He has just
written to ask the university for die
tionary to use in preparing his les
sons and his letter, which was re-
ceived recently, reveals an unusual
sort of convict. Here is part of his
letter:
However, I am not kicking, Meth
er am l sore at society but am simply
trying to make the best of my misfor-
tune. I have secured a complete
course in craftsmanship and am trying
to master it as expect to take up that
line upon my release, but 1 am badly
in need of a dictionary and thought
perhaps you might have one that is
not being used by you any more that
you would send to me. The rea-
son that 1 write to you is that because
I was born and lived most of my life
in Kansas. My grandfather was a
member of the first legislature of the
state of Kansas and l think at one
time was state superintendent of
schools. Abraham Ellis was his
name"
Students at the university have be-
come so interested in the case of No
27578 that they got up a Christmas
box which confined not only the die
tionary, but several other books, as
well as many periodicals.
* x X
Ignore Mother Pension Law-The
Sedgwick county commissioners gave
the Mothers Pension Law another
swat the other afternoon when they
refused to grant pensions to five wo-
men whom the investigating board re-
ported worthy and needy.
X x
Kansas Boy DroWned-Coy Wilcox,
II years old, was drowned at Wash
ington when he broke through the ice
on Mill Creek. A companion tried to
assist him, but could not reach the lad
before he went under the ice. Search
ers found the body about an hour
later.
A Judge Refuses Gifts.-Judge Dali
las Grover of the Salina district court
refused all Christmas gifts sent to him
by friends. He explained that as Judge
of the district court he was not in a
position to accept gifts from others
than his immediate family. He refused
even a box of candy for his children.
Many Marry in Independence.-Cu-
pid has been running Santa Claus a
merry race at independence, twenty
sued by the probate judge in two days
recently.
Lyon County Pioneer Dead.-G. w.
Thornton, a resident Of Lyon county
since 1857, is dead. Born in Iowa in
1888, he was member of the Ninth
Kansas Regiment in the Civil War.
Franklin County Has Road Club
Franklin county now is organized for
the KIT. Highway, a proposed route
through Kansas as a cutoff to the JEFF
ferson Highway. F. J. Miller of OF
tawa, vice president for Franklin
county, has named local committees
at Richmond. Princeton, Ottawa and
Wellsyille.
x X
Marshall Warren Dead.-MarshaII
Warren died at his home IN Emporia
the other afternoon of heart disease.
Mr.. Warren was vice president of the
Warren Mortgage company
X X
Frank Hodges Stricken-Frank
Hodges of OIathe, q member of the
Kansas Panama commission, who is
IN California on business for that
board. was stricken with appended
tbs recently and underwent an opera
ton in the Agnew saaitarium In San
Diego.
coneordia OFFICIAL Dies-George W.
Title, president Of the city council
and ex-county treasurer. was found
dead in bed st C0rcordia recently. Hs
went Tiers ID 1871 He vas g yekrs
Of aEe