The Canon City record with which is consolidated the Canon City cannon., 1916-06-08
CONVICT
PARDONED;
HASTENS
TO DYING
MOTHER
SERVED EIGHT YEARS IN THE
PENlTENTiARY HERE FOR A
CRIME OF WHICH He WAS IN
NocENT.


an aged mother sick unto death, to
her son as she lay on her humble
bed in far of Tennessee, caressing his
face, paled by eight years of confine.
ment behind the prison walls OF thi
state penitenitray at Canon City, years
that he had served which should have
been served by another, for he was
innocent OF the crime for which he
\ had heen found guilty. Can
you picture the meeting of that
mother and son? Can you see the
tear-dimmed eyes brighten as his foot
steps are heard on the threshold of
tnat little home. the embrace OF the
ever faithful wife and the innocent
children as they rushed into his arms I?
This little family had waited for over
seven years for this day OF rejoicing
and who is there who would take away
one OF the precious moments?
This happy episode in Tennessee Is
chapter in the life of Rotert L..
Whitehead around which the novelist
could write a book. Whitehead, n
southerner. broken in health came
west A life in the open. surrounded
by nature; the thought would again
make him strong and healthy so that
he could so al out his work with an
assurance that he was once more ply
sicaily ft to battle the cares OF life.
Eight days after he arrived. in Colo
rado and settled with his brother near
Lamar, hcinols crime was commit
ted against a member OF the house.
hold.
The man who committed the crime
was found murdered and Whitehead.
sick and apparently ready TO die. was
made the scapegoat and the crime was
shifted 10 his shoulders A jury
found him guilty OF murder and a
decis.on Of the court sent him to Can
on City for life.
For eight yeas he remained a pris-
oner in the state prison. Durirg the
time he was confined Re ionEed TO see
hIs family back IN Tennessee. where
a wife. children and a grey haired
mother all conHdcrt that he was not
guilty. lonyed by day and prayed by
night for his releafe from the state
prison.
Sometime ago sister-in-law Of the
condemned man lay on her death bed.
As the grim reaper crept slowly up
on her she called upon her maker for
consolation upon prrjured soul. and
made n death bed confession which
showed that Whitehead wus net guilty
of the crime of which he had been
convicted: that another was guilty
and that she had sworn falsely when
bshe had assisted. In sending him to
the penitentiary.
Her confession Was presented to
the board OF pardons and the members
Immediately began an investigation
which established the fact that White
head was not guilty OF the crime. The
woman's confession that she had
sworn falsely was borne out by 9TH
ers who came to a meeting of the
board to give Testimony.
While the Investigation was loing
on the man. stamped as a criminal re-
UnhlntQ Nlttiih tAt C0au Shag N1f@ "
the penItentiary, detected ard broken
In health and spirit but clinging
tenaciously to the hope that some
day he would gain his freedom and
that the some day would come before
his mother had passed into the be-
yond.
Finally the day arrived when he
was handed pardon and walked thru
the prison gates and the streets OF
Canon City free man. So happy was
he TO be free man that he did not
stop TO thank those who had assisted
in freeing him but boarded a train
which carried him to his old home
and his family.
A few days ago. Allen Wright of
Pueblo, b.g-hearted railroad man, a
member Of the board Of pardons. re-
celved the following letter. Il Is brief
yet It shows the gratitude OF man
who was stamped as . crimi ial and
who would have died as such had not
an interest been taken in his case by
outsiders.
Tho letter roads:
Mr.. Allen Wright,
Denver. Colo.
My Dear Friend: arrived at home
safe and sound and had the happlest
meeting Of my entire life. II was 20
good TO meet with my loved ones and
TO see my two new grandchildren.
they are 20 sweet ! am afraid that
A. ~n.A A>.tA 49,