Baraboo weekly news. [volume] (Baraboo, Wis.) 1912-197?, 1919-09-04

x,;e;+ad the Utah and Colorado penn
tiarias in order that Mr.. Boyle may
write his impressions for the oosi,o
nolitan magazine. The author oi lho
seRoston Blackie" stories was the guess
of the editor of the Denver Post Wnlie
IN the west and wrote short artlcie
for that newspaper. Among otner
things Mr.. Boyle says in the POST:
In Colorado under Warden Thomas
T Tynan's methods more tnan NINETY
mem of each hundred who enter canon
Ci+v nenitentiary as criminals are,
when they are released, safe law ABIDING
citizens who at once become an asset
IN the community in which they are
placed. The same is true OF the otah
prison at Salt Lake, which, under the
advanced. broad minded policy OF Gov
ernor Simon Bamberger, and ms
warden. George A Storrs, is 1teraliy
rernaking men literally changing the
very worst Of men into good citizens.
Too often taxpayers are not awake 10
this incalculable economic saving 10
them. for the solid man Of business is
the one who must pay. the bills III
reduced taxes and lessened crime
losses. 1t is fortunately true, however,
that almost everywhere have stopped
on NV Western trip l find an increas-
ing tendency in public thought toward
understanding and appreciation OF a
subject which strikes straight at every
honest mans pocketbook. Criminals,
naturally, are never concerned with
soaring tax rates.
And now for few specific instances
of what is being accomplished by prls-
ons which are abreast Of the times.
sen.ance Is COMMITTED After a Long
Fight
There is a prisoner at Utah penlteh-
t,ary named James Shockley, serving
q life sentence for a double murder
committed fifteen years ago. Shock
lev. a soldier with a magnlncent rec
ord in the army for bravery IN the
pbilinnines. became addicted to drink
after mis- discharge turned TO crime 1or
a livelihood and ended his career py
killing two carmen during an attempt
cd holdup. He was sentenced to death
and eventually after long tight was
committed to a life sentence, mucn
against public sentiment at that Tune.
His first ten years in a prison tneh
men can be punished by pure brute
force into reformation left him an I'M
changed man, one from whom society
IL.
He was a homeless, sullen, brutallzed
prisoner who felt himself at war ire
yocably with mankind Then came
a change of administration. Governor
Bamberger appointed Warden Storrs
as his new-idea prison head man. jim
Shockley came within the sphere of in
f1uence Of present-day prison methods.
Never Locked Up in Cell, Day or
Night
What was the result!
During my recent visit to the Salt
Lake prison a courteous, keen minded
deeply Thoughtful man dressed in CIVIL
ian clothes showed me through the
prison. His metal grasp OF the prison
problem was amazing. His conclusions
were unerringly logical. Never, night
or day though he is still convict
doing a life sentence, is he behlno
locked door. In the midst OF our talk
was compelled to return to my hotel
by previously made engagement.
IL am sorry to have to go back
down town without finishing my talk
with YOU" said to Shockley.
= "If YOU like I'll ride down with you,
ne suggested.
Without leaving word concerning his
ohsence or it's cause, ShOckley rode
down town with me on street car
went to dinner with me at down
town dining place and, late in the
evening, left me and took a car alone
back to the prison.
Some months ago his aged mother
was critically i'll in a state $500 miles
from Utah. With tears in his eyes
Shockley showed the telegram from
his home to Warden Storrs.
Travels 1900 Miles Alone to See His
Sick Mother
"rd give ten years of my life te
look into my mothers face again, NJ
said hopelessly
"You shall" said Warden Storr:
without hesitation.
That night, Shockley boarded a trair
alone and travelled back to his home
He spent ten days with his mother
and upon the day set by the warder
walked into the penitentary office ant
reported back to complete his lift
sentence.
Could there be more convincing
test of any prison system than this
Shockley knew that in going back III
was submitting himself to prison TO
life unless the Utah parole boart
grants him parole. Yet he went back
What's the explanation?
Simply this. The James Shockle.
who keeps absolute faith with Wardel
&fo1.rs today is not the same man il