The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1922-11-06
fits T1RY'S
MYSTERIES
1.-THE PRISON POET"

UXXTHO wrote this poem1"


w Judge John w. Willis OF ~.
Paul, MINI, turned to his secretary
one day early in 1910 and, pointing to
"A verse which appeared in an issue
Of the paper published by the prison
crs Of the st. Paul penltentiary, bade
the other read what he termed "one
Of the best bits of poetry ! have come
across in many u day'-a fragment
Of which ran:
Haggard faces and trembling knees,
Eyes that shine with weaklng's gate;
Lips that mutter their blasphemies.
Murderous hearts that darkly walt;
These were they who were men OF late.
Fit 70 hold a plough or sword.
II a prayer this wall Will penetrate,
Have pity on these, my comrades, Lordl
Interested In the psychology which
could give birth to such lines written
behind the bars Of penitentiary,
Judge Willis made point of visiting
the prison, where he found man
entered upon tue prison books as
John Carter age "a" but who admit
ted that both the name and age were
false. When questioned as to his true
name he would only reply: II have
too much pride TO allow that to be
known" and, with respect to his age,
he merely pointed to his gray hairs
and smiled.
Carter had been sentenced to ten
years in prison for burglary, but when
Judge Willis commenced to investi-
gate his case, he found that the man
had had nothing to eat for two days
prior to his crime. and That he had
/ broken into railway restaurant with
/ the sole Idea OF obtaining enough food
to save himself from starvation, after
being thrown from freight train
while trying TO beat his way from
Winnipeg to st. Paul.
Shortly after entering the prison
Garter" had commenced TO play the
organ in manner which attracted the
instant attention of a music teacher In
st. Paul, who declared that he pos
sessed exceptional ability, and he also
contributed number c. poems 10 the
prison paper-poems which had not
only led Judge Willis but number OF
editors throughout the country TO an
appreciation Of the genius Of this con
yIct.author. His Ballad Of Misery
and Iron," which was widely quoted
In various sections OF the United
States and Canada at the time, and
Of which the verse above forms 8
part, concludes with the remarkable
stanza:
Poets sing OF life at the Ices
In tender verses and delicate
or tears and manifold agonles
Little they know OF what they prate.
Out OF this silence passionate
: Sounds a deeper. wilder chord.
IL song be heard through the marrow
gate.
Have pity on these. my comrades. Lord!
But. as Judge Willis founud. Gar
ter" was not a man who whIned OF
complained. He admitted his crime
and declared that the law had sen
fenced him Justly. and that he wal
perfectly willing TO work out the re
naming half of his term. A movement
for pardon was instituted, however
and. within n year. the prison gate,
opened and "John Carter" was ono,
more a free man. AS he stepped on
the warden asked II he would no
write something descriptive OF tn
way he felt. Garter" hesltated a nc
ment and then replied:
Lead me back 10 my cell. mus
have the iron bars In front of me-"
A few moments later he stepped out
a poem completed, the final lines o
which read:
Unreal II seems.
Half ecstasy. half WEAKNESS and pain
For 30 fear this haven OF my dreams
Shall vanish and the storm come bao
again"
"Who are you" asked one OF III,
group Of reporters who had gathere,
10 witness the release of the prison
poet. But Carter, his face grim hi
, eyes fixed firmly on the world whlcl
he was viewing for the first time II
FIVE years, answered.
"rhat Is my secret. Possibly yol
may hear from me In the future"
1t Is more than possible that tn
world has heard from him, for geniu
such as that OF Carriers cannot be hid
den by pseudonym any more than |
can he confined by tho wnlIS OF