Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1921-01-27
PRISON OFTEN
LURES FLEEING
CONVICT BACK
Many Who Escape Return to
Peace and Quiet of Cell.
HARD TO DODGE THE LAW NOW
Cables, the Telephone, Railroads, Even
AirpIanes, If Necessary, Can Now
Be Called on to Speed in Pursuit
of Escaped Cenvict-Manner Be-
trays Him, as He Becomes Wary of
Everyone He Meets-Averaee Num-
Der of Escapes a Year Is 500

Der of Escapes a Year Is 500.
Prison escapes seem to be unusually
numerous of late. One man mlracu-
lousy departs from Jail with three fell
low prisoners, and no clew is found.
At reformatory several assertions
lead to the suspicion that a key is be-
ing circulated among the inmates. And
there are similar stories in the pa
pers almost every day. They sug-
gest that Jail breaking is frequent
occurrence, writes Frederic j. Haskin
in the Chicago Daily News.
We put the question up to Earl Dud-
ding head of the Prisoners Relief So
ciety, and got this reassuring answer:
''There is no great menace from es-
capped convicts. There are 4,OOO,OOO
inmates i'm penal institutions in this
country. Half a million men, women,
boys and girls are convicted of some
offense every year, and as many more
are freed from prisons. Compare
these big figures with the average
number of escapes year. which is al
most 500"
Hard to Dodge Law Now.
Five hundred convictS break away.
but Doctor budding explains that
where even 50 years ago they might
have stood fair change Of permanent
freedom, today they are often retaken
Immediately. A comparatively few
years ago a refugee had Il chance to
cover his tracks and lose his identity
in the time it took TO notify SheriffS
and spread word of the escape. Now
cables. the telephone. railroads. even
airplanes, if necessary, can be called
on to speed in pursuit.
If he is not taken at once, the con-
vict's manner betrays him. Publicity
may have gone ahead Of him. he fears,
and so he is wary of every one he
meets. The man across the lunch
room table who inquiries, between
bites of a sandwich where he works,
may be a detective. A policeman looks
al him and ne is thrown into a panic.
Eventually he gives himself away in
Getting Back In.
"Nearly every day." says Doctor
|. budding, zone or more men Of his
type come to me for help because the
situation is too much for them. There
was q typical case just a few days
ago The man came in and asked
to talk with me- He kept looking at
me, trying TO decide whether he could
trust me with his secret.
"'Well said to him, when did you
escape?
'The blow nearly knocked him over.
He had no idea he showed his fear so
plainly. Then he looked relieved. We
talked the matter over and ! showed
him that the only thing TO do was to
20 back and finish his term. Then
he could walk the streets u free man.
You aren't free now told him. You
don't dare talk to any one
""rhat's true he said. But II | go
back I'll be put in irons, and 1 was a
trusty.'
"'No, not if you give yourself up l
told him. 4 will write to the superin-
tendent and explain that you are COM
ing back voluntarily and ask him to
give you your old place
The man agreed, and here is the sur
prising part of the story. to one who
does not understand prisons and pris-
oners as Doctor budding does.
placed on His Honor.
The man was not put under guard or
handcuffed. Doctor budding told him
to come back at certain time. When
he came he was given Il ticket TO the
Jail town and letter which had been
obtained from the superintendent of
the prison, saying that he was travel
ing by permission Of the prison au-
thorities. The convict was to carry
this letter with him, for he was want
ed by the police and might have been
arrested on his way. This man ola
not make any attempt to use either
the letter or the ticket to escape. The
adventure was over for him.