The Washington times., 1919-09-30
sold Bill" TO Lose His
Only Home When Prison
Doors Open This Week

made a 'Gifer" and how ne served
time in three great penitentiaries,
moved the hearts Of hundreds OF
prominent society women, who inter-
ceded in his behalf and have indi-
Gated an interest in his welfare. But
the story as "Old Bill" would tell it
would urge the hardest Of persons to
compassion and sympathy.
1t is a Well-RnOwn tale TO those in
mates Of Moundsville penitentiaTy, in
Virginia, and the Federal penitentiary
at Atlanta. Ca, and the Lorton re-
rormatOry at Accotink, Va, near here.
Any jailbird who has served his "bit"
in any OF these prisons since Har-
risOn's term in the White House can
tell you who and what "Old Bill is.
They can also tell you OF the hard
ships he has endured in his years in
Jail
Found Wife Dead.
How on one night in 1888. "Old Bill"
Cross left his home here in Washing
ton to see a show" and how he made
his way back to his house after the
theater to md his young wife dead in
bed, is told by these convicts, all OF
whom believe the story as it was told
to them. That is what Bill maintains.
He was arrested when the death Of
his wife was reported to the police.
She had been killed by a revolver
shot. The bullet lodged in her head.
He told the authorities that she had
committed suicide, because Of her
jealousy at his leaving her to go to
the theater.
A coroner's jury held him to answer
to the grand jury and they returned
an indictment to the court. The Judge
presiding sentenced him to die on the
gallOws. but the President was asked
by prominent persons attracted by the
case to commute his sentence. which
was done. Then Bill donned the garb
of "lifer" and started to spend the
rest Of his days in the striped clothes
Of the "chain gang"
Was Model Prisoner.
He never attempted escape. The
years since then have flown by un-
eventfuIly for him. He has outlivved
every person connected with his case.
he has changed from the stubborn
defendant who earnestly plead not
guilty before the court then, to a mod
ern underling worker nova He di-
vided the greater part Of his time" up
until two years ago, when he was sent
to LortOn, between MOudsville and
Atlanta. He did the work Of a janitor
and sanitary inspector and the con-
viCts in those jails have often ex-
pressed thanks to "Old BiIT for his
interest in their welfare.
The convicts in these penitentiaries
have all heard Of Bills parole and
they all say that they are glad, be
cause he deserved it." They have sent
him their best regards in the remak-
ing of his life.
The parole board Of Lorton is act
ing on his case, and expect that they
will finish the proceedings in time to
let "Old Bill" leave the prison walls
within the next faw days. And Bill
is happy in expectation. When in
formed Of action taken by the At
torney General and others in letting
him back into life, he fell on the
neck of his informers, and cried for
Joy.
Like Foreign Country.
Recently he passed through the
city. and when he is brought back
to live his life again it will be just
like a foreign country for him. StnI,
he knows that he can get along.
"Old Bill" is intelligent, say the
fail authorities under whom he has
performed MS penal SerVitude. A
Job is being sought for him by DR..
Earl f. budding, president Of the
Prisoners Relief Society here. who
served five years at MoundsviIIe
while "Old Bill" was there.
When the prison gates open and
close on Bill Cross, aged So, soon,
another person will start life in the
world, after having II closed against
him for the time OF two wars, was
the introduction OF electric street
cars, automobiles, telephones, air
planes, submarines, tanks, and poison
gas