The tribune independent of Michigan. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1933-1935, 1934-04-14
PRISONS and
PRISONERS

Here In the city OF Chicago since
last writing. an attorney, scin of
IA prominent Chicago family, has
been arrested and is now held In
Jail on the charge OF smuggling a
gun to a prisoner awaiting trial.
On my rounds OF the city many
prominent people have discussed
this case with me and have won
dered why such a prominent per-
son would stoop TO such a deed on
the mere promise OF obtaining a
six thousand dollar reward Az
TER the prisoner. and his bud
dies, had escaped.
This brings up the age-old ques-
ton of What is his price?"
II has been contended that ev-
eryone has a price at which they
can be bought. This price is not
necessarily IA fixed one. nor is II
typical with persons OF various
circumstances. After all, circum-
stances. really dominate the stu
alton.
We can read in our papers daily
OF people in hithertofore high and
exalted positions who have been
accused OF wrong-doing. The per-
sons In question were simply up
right and law-abiding as long as
they could conviently afford TO be
but when adversely set in. and the
financial troubles OF their families
and friends cramped their former
style of living they resorted 10 an
expedient which they though
would be but temporary and could
easily be covered up but alas =
as all wrong-doers know from ex-
perience once you have played
with burning fire" it cannot be
covered up some smoke will con-
tlnue to arise from the slumbering
ruins and IL is this smoke that
inevitably leads to detection and
detention.
the opening paragraph. Undoubt-
edtly he was up against il in every
sense of the word. Perhaps his
practice had dwindled and his OBJ
legations were so pressing that
Amy port In a storm" seemed the
psychological reasoning TO him.
and when he was offered six
thousand dollar reward merely for
smuggling a pistol TO a prisoner
in jail the task seemed easy to
him and he readily consented.
II is true. or so II has been re-
ported, that he did not receive any
cash In the transaction merely a
promise but perhaps this lawyer
had more confidence in the accus-
ed prisoner being able to secure
six thousand dollars through the
illegal methods OF the prisoner II
he were free than the lawyer had
In his own ability TO make 1t. and
SO he reasoned II he could help the
prisoner secure his freedom illeg-
ally, which was impossible or so
IL seemed, through legal methods,
that the lawyer would be aiding
his own pocketbook quite mater
tally. and so he took the chance.
The lawyer, however, In his in
nocence, failed to take into con-
sideration that In every prison, In
every Jail. there are prisoners who
watch closely the action of every
other prisoner and are only too
eager to report the slightest vio-
lation OF any prison or jail rule
in the hopes that 1t might bring to
that prisoner some beneficial re-
ward. The axiom that there Is hon
or among thieves is absolutely un-
true There is always Judas close
by and woe be unto the inexperi-
enced person who does not take
this into consideration as the
lawyer In question well knows az
he is repining In Jail tonight.
If there Is a moral TO this story
IL is simply in the fact that no
body can secure anything for moth
ing. This statement has been re-
peated 80 many times by various
writer's that 1t has become mean
ingless. yet II is true that those
seeking easy money usually, al
least eentually, pay the price OF
long years of suffering and humii-
alton.