Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-06-28
LEAVES PRISON
HE ONCE ESCAPED
Youngstown, Ohio, Man Par
doned by Gov. Pollard to
Return to Family.
Special Dispatch to The Star.

CpcCldi DISPATCH 70 Inc
RICHMOND, Va, June 27-Jesse
Sherden Strawderman left prison walls
behind him for good and ever he said
today as he boarded a train for Wash
ington, where he will change to another
which will take him back to his wife,
three children and mother, who are
awaiting his return to his home in
Youngstown, Ohio. Strawderman, who
escaped from convict gang IL years
ago, near Winchester. while serving a
sentence of one year for breaking into
a box car, was finally apprehended in
Youngstown, where he had been living
seven years. and voluntarily returned
to the Virginia Peniteniary and was
pardoned by Gov. Pollard
Within 10 minutes after he left the
penitentiary Strawderman was telling
his story to a representative of The
Star. He was born in Connelsville, Pa,
80 years ago When he was 18 he stole
some clothing from box car, was con-
victed and sentenced to the Virginia
Penitentiary for one year He spent
three weeks in the prison and was then
transferred to the convict camp in
Frederick County. He worked with the
gang for three months, and then one
dav a fellow convict. youth like him
self, said he was "homesick" and was
going to walk away"
Made Way Back to Mother.
Strawderman decided upon escaping
also, and did so. The two walked
across country in their prison garb
avoiding towns until they obtained
clio hes to hide the stripes. Then Straw
derman made his way back to his home
town and his mother He never made
any effort to avoid detection and never
changed his name. Four of the years
following his escape he lived in Con-
nellsville, which appeared as his ad-
dress on the prison records. If they
came after him, he said, he was ready
to go back.
In 1924, when in Oakland, Md. he
married Miss Rosie Raupach of Dun
bar. Pa. They went to youngstown to
live where his mother also Joined
them There he raised his family
of three children, Jessie May, William
and Catharine He did not tell his
wife of his prison record until a year
ago. This made no difference what
ever in their lives. She did not think
they would ever even come after him.
But the thought that one day he would
be taken again never left him. He said
der which he was married.
Waived ExtRadition.
During the seven years he had lived
in Youngstown he had worked for the
Erie Railroad. A short time ago he
was approached by a man who twice
asked him his name. The man then
told him that he was under arrest as
an escaped convict from the Virginia
dnpidnd tn naive
tradition and return, though many of
his friends wanted him to make a
fight against returning. Strawderman
said that he expected to at least have
to serve out the remainder of his term,
which would have kept him at the
prison nine months. His mother told
him, You will be back in two weeks"
He reported at the penitentiary last
Monday. Tonight he expects to be
home again, one week ahead of his
mothers prediction. During the five
days he was back in prison the peo-
pie of youngstown were busy in his
behalf. They had found his record
good in the city in which he had lived
for seven years and wanted him back,
and the Governor granted the pardon
upon the strength of that record.
Finds Prison Changed.
Strawderman seemed most impressed
with the change that had come over
the prison since he left it IL years ago.
There will be no mawkish picture of
gloomy prison walls that he will carry
away with him. He was much sur
prised to find set of radio ear phones
in every cell, while for recreation at
night there also were talking pictures.
Also that every prisoner had plenty
to eat, being allowed second helping,
and he might even carry food to his
cell for a midnight lunch This sur
prised him most of all. He was glad
not to have to serve those nine months
he owed the State and to be able to
get back to his wife, mother and three
kiddies but still he hadn't word to
saw against prison life as he found it
with the Improvements II years had
brought.