The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1921-01-31
PRISuH often
LURE; FLEEING
CONVICT BACK
Many Who Escape Return to
Peace anu Quiet OF Cell.
HARD TO DODGE the LAW NOW

HAIKU u DUUGt HI LAW NUW
Gables, the Telephone, Railroads, Even
AirpIanes, if Necessary. Can Now
Be Called on to Speed in Pursuit
of Escaped Convict-Manner Be-
trays Him, as He Becomes Wary Of
Everyone He Meets-Average Mum.
Der of Escapes a Year Is 500.
Prison escapes seem to be unusually
numerous of late. One man miracu-
lously departs from Jail with three fell
low prisoners, and no clew is found
AT a rcfOrmatory several deSertlOns
lead to the suspicion that key is be-
ing circulated among the inmates. And
there are similar stories in the pa
pers almost every day. They Sug-
gest thar Jail breaking is d frequent
occurrence, writes Frederic ]. Iiaskln
in the Chicago Daily News. ,
We put the question up to Earl Dud-
ding, head of the Prisoners Relief So
ciety, and col this reassurlng answer:
"1here is no great menace from eS-
capped convfets. There are 4O00,OOO
inmates in penal institutions in this
country. Half million men, women,
boys and girls are convicted of some
OtfenSe every year, and as many more
are freed from prisons. Compare
these big figures with the average
number of escapes a year, which is al.
most 500"
Hard to Dodge Law Now.
Five hundred cOnvicts break away.
but Doctor budding explains that
where even 80 years ago they might
have stood a fair chance of permanent
freedom, today they are often retaken
Immediately A comparatively few
years ago refugee had 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, II 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 u detective. A policeman looks
al him and he Is thrown into n panic.
Eventually he gives himself away In
his efforts to be inconspicuous.
Getting Back In.
NEARLY every day." says Doctor
budding, zone or more men ofuhjs
type come to me for help because the
situation Is too much for them. There
was typical case just few days
ago The man came in and asked
to talk with me. He kept looking at
me. trying 10 decide whether he could
trust me with his secret.
"'Well' l said to him, when did you
escapeT
'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
go back and finish his term. Then
he could walk the streets free man.
You aren't free now told him. You
don't dare talk to any one
Is l,o Tyt 4
back I'll be put in irons, and was a
trusty.'
"'N0 not if you give yourself up
told him. 4 will write TO the supcrin-
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 Il certain time. Wien
he came he was given Il ticket to the
Jail town and letter which had been
obtained from tio 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 did
not make any attempt to use either
the letter or the ticket to escape. The
adventure was over for him.
Something like this happens about
a hundred times year. Escaped pris-
oners from all parts of the country
come into an Office of the Prisoners
Relief society or write to Doctor bud.
ding to know what to do. He tells
them. as he told the man just men,
toned, that they cannot expect to live
honorably or in peace until they have
been freed by the state. and then,
when he has their permission he does
what he can to make the return to
prison easy for them. He says that
he has never failed to convince any
one who appealed to him of the wis
dom of this course--even in cases of
escapes from life Imprisonment.
He Lost His Nerve.
u T1o