Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-12-16


credible eight years in a death
an account Of his previous lif
Jail when he mastered law and
tried to save himself. But here
Is a factual story altogether
different from any I've ever
read:
REPRIEVE: THE TESLA
MENT OF JOHN RESKO.
Doubleday; $3.75.
John Resko's narrative of his
10 years in New York's DAN
nemora is an objective, almost
detached document.
Not that 1t lacks a personal
touch, an eye witness view to
most of the things that went
on. but there is never the
monotone of continuous in
trospection and retrospection
which you've probably come to
expect of such records. Mr..
Resko repeats many stories
which other convicts told him,
concealing their names where
they might hurt.
No Bid for Sympathy
John Resko wastes no time
enlisting sympathy or insisting
he got what is called a bum
rap. In his youth he killed a
man in a holdup. He was
sentenced to death and spent
an agonizing time in the death
house at Sing Sing, though he
uses more space describing
what happened to other con-
demned men. Finally his sem
tence was committed to life,
and he was transferred to
Clinton Prison, better known
as Dannemora, for its town
in the Adirondacks.
Dannemora, designed for
long termers, several time
losers. men regarded as con-
f1rmed felons, has been known.
no doubt rightfully, as New
York's little Siberia. It used
to be one of the toughest
prisons in the country; it still
is no mountain resort. But
even as John Resko entered,
nearly 80 years ago, it was
changing. The barbarous old
rule of silence had been modi-
f1ed-the men could talk at
certain hours-and there was
even stirring in the admin
iStration a faint idea that the
purpose Of a prison was re-
clamation along with punish
ment. not merely revenge.
The Yard Courts"
There was still mostly the
motif of revenge in Johns
early days. But in describing
the more callous, even savage
practices. he never tries to pile
things on. He is even quicker
to point out a decent, helpful
guard than one who took
pleasure in brutality. Even in
that earlier prison, with its
rigid rules and harsh punish
ments for minor infractions,
the men, as resourceful men
under the hardest circum-
stances have always done,
found compensation. In the
recreation yard they were al
lowed what was called courts"
where comrades could pool the
little. luxuries as they were al
lowed to buy from the COM
missary or received from home
and where those without funds
were helped by those with
money.
John. though he was better
educated, more thoughtful
than most Of them, put on no
airs. He was a regular CON"
He never took up for the
guards. He helped one man
escape. He dreamed of es-
cape. And yet. as time went
on he took stock of himself.
Did he want to drift out his
days hating those who ruled
his every moment. scheming
for petty advantages, hoping
for escape from a prison so
strong no one had made a
break and remained un-
caught for 30 years? Or did
he want TO make something
Of his life, even here. in the
hope that some day he might
even be free2
Change for the Better
He decided. We see John
and the prison changing
gradually into something bet
ter. A school was started. He
had no small part in starting
1t. for he was leader among
the prisoners. He developed
a gift for drawing and paint
ing. Eventually he was teach
ing a class, first in sign paint
ing. then in landscapes and
portraits as well as posters.
In time John became known
for his paintings outside prison.
Some were hung in galleries
Noted artists got interested in
time. Carl GARNER. the writer.
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