Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1918-02-28
OWE FREEDOM TO
THIS DETECTIVE
GETTING MEN OUT OF PRISON is
HIS HOBBY.
Injustice Toward Convict Friend
Years Ago Resulted in Fight
for Parole Laws.

A young man stood before the bar of
q Kansas court, convicted of robbery.
In moment of temptation he had
yielded and taken something that did
not belong to him. Before that his
reputation had been good. He had a
wife and two children, worked hard
and was respected. But he had taken
few drinks and had stumbled from
the paths Of honesty. He had pleaded
guilty, told his story and thrown him.
self upon the mercy Of the court.
The Judge was speaking now.
"Under the law have no choice but
to send you to prison." he said. your
sentence will be an indeterminate one
Of from one to fourteen years. Accord
Ing to the law of this state, II, at the
end Of your minimum sentence, your
conduct has been such as to merit con-
sideration you will be released on pa
role. So you see the length of your
confinement depends to greater or
less extent upon yourself. If you OBJ
serve the rules of the prison you will
have earned parole at the expiration
Of one year of your term"
Then the guard led the prisoner
away.
From the rear of the room, John T.
Glynn, now Chief of Police of Leaven-
worth, Kan. and long personal friend
of the man just sentenced, had wit
messed the proceedings. To him it was
no new scene, but his profession had
not made him hard hearted, and in
this case he believed that the law had
punished unjustly. Seeking out the
prisoner, he added his admonition to
those of the Judge.
"Do as he told you and will help
you to get out" said Glynn.
"Pll do it." said the prisoner. And
he kept his word
The year was up. Not black mark
stood against the prisoner. His con-
duct readily indorsed his application
for parole.
True to his word, Glynn was on
hand when the board. met. On behalf
| Of the prisoner he stated the case, pre-
sented the warden's recommendation
| and himself promised to be RESPONSE
BILE for the good conduct of the prison
er. In fact, his former employer had
promised him his job back.
The application was refused. The
board explained it had long been pa
rolling so many convicts that political
capital was being made of it and 1t
had been decided to curtail the num-
ber of releases. If the prisoner con
tipued his good record he might hope
for parole at the end of his second
year in prison.
But the prisoner did not make good
Discouraged, not understanding, long
ing for a chance to redeem himself
he went from bad to worse, his work
suffered, he was disciplined and pun
ished and rapidly dveloped into one OF
the bad men of the prison. He served
more than half of his term before he
was released.
While it worked hardship in his
case, however, it proved a blessing to
at least 1000 other persons. For when
he heard the decision of the board
Glynn vowed that he would devote
himself thereafter to seeking means
of improving conditions which would
permit such things. More, he would
try to keep men from going to prison
in the first place and for those who
already were in he would try to find
way out.
Promise of work is requirement OF
all parole boards. Glynn says he has
found it easy to get jobs for ex-con
victs. The cry that no one will give
man just released from prison an
other chance to make good he derides
One contractor has given at least {
hundred jobs to men who have served
time and one of his most trusted fore
men once was an accomplished thief
That is why, from one end of thu
country to the other Glynn, the detec
tive, is overshadowed by Glynn, th'
friend of the man who slips and goe'
wrong, the man who will go to th'
front for him and the holder of rec
ord for getting first offenders agains
the law paroled.
East and West. North and South
the courts. the governors, the prisol
wardens know him equally we'll. Pris
on boards have listened to his plea
in behalf of men in whom he believe
the good still is greater than the bad