Newark leader. ([Newark, Ohio]) 1917-1946, 1924-09-19
.CHOOSESDEATH
LOEB AND LEOPOLD HAVE A
COMRADE AGED 95
Who Says Death is Better than Life
in Jail-Can't Earn a Living
But Wants His Freedom

Joliet, ILLS life so dear as to
be purchased at the price of eternal
slavery?" oo
So today spoke Convict 5000 as
his almost blind eyes groped to see
something that has passed forever
sacred liberty. He was commenting
on the Loeb-Leopold case.
Convict 5000 is 95 years old. he
was born in Sweden on April 10, 1877
His name before he entered here was
Charles A. Lindenwall. He was proud
of two things-first, that he had seen
Abraham Lincoln, and second, that he
was a master baker.
Back in 1899 Lindenwall was found
guilty of murder and was sentenced
to be hanged. He had shot to death
saloonkeeper in a drunken braWl.
Governor Tanner communted the SEN
tence to life Imprisonment on April
80, 1900. Convict 5000 took up the
dull routine of prison life. The years
have touched heavily on the physical
being of the old convict, but his mlnd
is unusually clear. 1t was startling
to learn that he was fairly we'll ac-
ouainted with the LoebLeopold case
eyes, | have heard of them, the
two sons Of rich men who are coming
here for life" he said. "lt IS SAID
very sad to see"
"What would you advise them to
do when they get here?" he was ask
ed.
His answer was emphatic.
"There are rules to be Obeyed, and
say they ought to obey them. II
does no good to kick"
He was silent for time.
81 have seen them come and seen
them go" he continued, pointing i'm
pressively first to the administration
building. where lies the path to dis
charge and freedom, and second to
the gray gates in the yard where oc77
casionally drab procession headed
by a merciful death Wends its way TO
the convict graveyard.
Il have seen the tough ones, the
bad ones, the weak ones, the strong
ones, and the ones who laughed, and
the ones who were sorry. They made
their own places here, as | made
mine. and these two boys will have
to make theirs. If they VIII aVold
the smart alecks and listen to the ad-
vice of men like me, they Will get
along better
Silence again, and the palsied hands
shook and the gnarled old fingers
twisted the cap of convict gray.
"What must they do in order to
make good for parole?" was the next
question. This query led to a field
in which every convict is proficient.
LAWYERS with years Of training have
tried to figure the minimum term
that Babe and Dicky must serve.
Here is the answer Of an authority,
given with no hesitation:
"They must serve 33 years Of the
99-vear term on the kidnapping charge
before they can go before the board.
That means SO years Of perfect obe-
dience and workmanship, then there
vet remains the life sentence.
eff they do not behave according
to the rules, they must serve so years
and 9 months, with whatever good
time they have lost. And then there
is still the life sentence. He shook
his head ''It is a long, long time,
and | know because | have lived it.
every day is the same. Some
times it rains and sometimes the sun
shines. The only break comes on
Sundays and holidays, and they too
are all the same. Everything is the
same"
The monotony of it all seemed to
beat on the wracked frame.
"If you were Is years old and you
were told that you must serve rest