Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1926-11-13
Continued from last week.

CONTINUED from last week.
All prisoners from wherever con.
fined had to return to the Main
Prison to be dressed" out and re-
leased Again / entered the guard
room where / was hurriedly dressed,
received hand-shakes and we'll wish
es from friends and acquaintance
whom / knew there; for a release of
an inmate, especially a long timer,
seems to lie a happy event for all
around prison. Former difficulties
and controversies were forgotten
and inmates aud officials alike join
In bidding you good luck. Dressed
again in civilian clothes I was taken
to the record clerks office where the
conditions of my parole were gone
into and the official papers given to
me along with the usual lecture that
is meant to create to the released
man the seriousness of the step he
Is taking and how he should guard
against all temptations, etc. and
make good. Then to the Warden's
office when another lecture and
much hand shaking and exchange of
fluctuations were in order. My old
friend Mr. Bennett was there and
aided his wishes and in addition adj
ded d more practical suggestion that
If gois up against it and needed
ANYTHING t. write back and let him
know and he Ssould see that got
through all right. What friend
after all these years. After all the
greatest thing in the world is friend
ship I hope l shall never have to
appeal to him however. He has
done enough for me must do
something for him.
The last step was then to the
cashiers window, new official be-
ing in charge there. He told me the
amount of my account but did not
take into consideration the few
transfers which my friends had given
me and inasmuch as they were at
the new prison refused to recognize
them but promised to send them to
me when they were properly re-
ceived and put through the system.
He therefore handed me $40
bill. Never did such a bill appear
so insignificant. Stepping into the
world free man with but the
clothes on my back, not even
change of collar no. definite place to
go to. not knowing where I was to
stay that night or the next day and
with but ten dollars in your possess
ion. it is burt little wonder that many
fall again by the wayside before
they can get on their feet. In my
case I had neither friends nor
home to GO to, However ] had de-
Termination and / meant to MAKE
good and despite the obstacles was
going to come out on top a lady
sitting opposite the cashiers win
dow waiting to see her husband
"inside" sensed my position, smiled
and said it must seem good to be
free again and at the same time,
without being noticed by any OBJ
servers about slipped some bills in
my hand / stopped arguing with
the cashier. l felt that Lady Luck
was going to look after me and GER
tainly this was the first evidence OF
same. Who the benevolent lady
was do not know. Had never seen
her before and perhaps never will
again but If I cannot repay her or
her husband for her specific act of
kindness it will be repaid to others
who find themselves in need of
friend and, money.
The cashier put me in prison bus
and took me to the train, making
sure that I was on my way. Ar
irving in Detroit I went at once to
the colored Y. NJ. @. A.. and "
their privileges were reserved for
members or affiliated members
only, / sought out the Secretary,
explained my circumstances and
was taken in. Again luck ia
vored me and at least temporarily /
was domiciled in good clean whole
some quarters. The next day I went
olft to see the parole officer for that
county, who proved to be dear
lovable, elderly gentleman who talk.
ed to me for a couple OF hours like
a father to a son. He gave me
letter to an official in a large motor
concern who had promised to take
care of me in clerical capacity
Arriving there however possibly to
the color Of my face, he discovered
that the position had been filed the
dav before when as matter Of fact
ii had not been filed two hours pre-
Viously when the parole officer
phoned him that I was on my way.
The official however was willing to
give me other employment and sug-
gested foundry or porter work, and
suggested that ] be there at seven
in the morning
The reader will remember that
had but the clothes on my back and
they were not suitable for either
work even though ! had the inclina
ton to do same and ] must frankly