The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1920-12-30
FORMER OUTLAW
TALKSOF PRISON
LIFE---AND AT TER
Al Jennings Relates How Par
don Was Obtained and Why
He Was Defeated for Gov
erncr.
Rv LANES GARELLE.


The Memphis board of censors
Wednesday issued a ukase pal rug
"The Lady of the Dugout' from
showing in this city, alleging that
the rcputa ton of the author would
have a bad effect upon the rising
generation. AL Jennings, scenarloist
and former outlaw, was present 10
plead his case but the board was
adamant. John NJ. Dean and Mrs. >
j. Ellis opposed 1t, Percy N. Sho-
lars, third member of the board was
unavoidably absent, 49,.
''While | greatly regret the actloll
of the board, 1 am helpless, Mr,
Jennings declared. THE picture mas
a distinct ethical appeal and as such
would have a wide influence Tor good
The board condemned the picture, not
on its merits-or lack OF them--aS
the members admitted that they had
not seen it, but entirely upon my
reputation, q reputation that ! am
irving my utmost to bury-if the
world will permit me. Such actions
as the Memphis board show how
hard Ii is to go straight
short sedate, slender with large
tortoise shell glasses, prominent gold
teeth and the diffident air OF prl-
yate secretary. AL Jennings, once the
terror of trains and bane of bankers
is in Memphis in the interest of his
moving pictures. For the once re-
doubtable holtAdp man is now i'm the
movies. The cynic may be inclined
to say that there is no change but
that is beyond the question.
Il received my Communication OF
sentence through the good OFFICES OF
Senator Mark Hanna of Ohio. one OF
the keentNt and shrewdest men
have ever met" Mr.. Jennings stated
AT that time | was acting as sec
rotary for the warden OF the penl'
Tertiary. Senator Hanna, when tne
entered. told me he wanted TO see
the red headed train robber that nc
had heard so much about. told
him that l was the man but he
would not believe me. The warden
however, when he came confirmed
nv statement and added some very
complimentary remarks Of his own
When the senator left he told me
he was going to get me out OF there
and he did.
"The world is very hard on the
released man. He is logged every
where and the men that will aid tc
set him on his feet are few and raj
between. Instead of aiding him they
pusn him a little lower down. Wher
in prison the average convict u
treated with a brutality that is al
most beyond description. Whereas
one convict may be treated well ~
guard the same guard may bea'
another over the head, and otherwise
maltreat him shamefully. The worit
never hears of this for rs per CEN
of the men drift back and the RES
Green away and want the world e
forget them. -,
"Once in O while when man like
Julian Hawthorne tells the world q
the Cossack treatment melted out K
defenseIess men, there is momen'
tary stir but all too soon 1t Is forgot
ten. We need a different system o
discipline. The present one is
rAic of the dark ages and make
criminals instead of curing them.
would rather be a train robber anC
an ex-convict than the average poll
tieian. The train robber is much the
more honest in comparison.
Counted Out.
politics is a dirty mess. was
honestly elected governor of the
state of oklahoma Dut was counted
out by the politicians because they
knew l would strictly enforce al
laws and send q bunch Of them to
Jail where they deserved to be. AS
Ii Is am forging ahead while they
are still living in terror ~ the day
of political judgment,
Il have been very successful will
my literary output and find 1t ex-
tremely fascinating. l have turned
from the pen to the picture because
there is more money in 1t. | am
constantly putting out new pictures
in which l try to depict what the
outcome of the lawbreaker will be
Each picture has a distinct appeal
and distinct warning to all inclined
to tread the primrose path"
Mr.. jennings will be here for a
couple of days after which he leaves
for New York on business, While
here he will meet with the city mo-
ton picture censorship board in re-
gard to q picture of his scheduled tC
appear at a local theater.
Mr.. Jennings is undecided as yet
what course he will pursue. He will
remain in Memphis n couple of days
and then he expects his business in
terests will call him to New York
city.