_RELEASED FROM PRISON._
A sentence to a term of years in prison in many states is commuted to
“short time,” so many days being deducted from each month for good
behavior. An attempt to escape or continuance in disobedience will
require a full-term service. In some states there is a parole law
where for good behavior prisoners may be paroled or given liberty to
go anywhere in the state by reporting once or twice a month, stating
their whereabouts, and at the end of a given period, if they do not
abuse their privileges by leaving the state, they will be given a final
discharge.
The state of West Virginia has recently passed a bill to create and
establish a free public employment bureau, which came into effect May
15, 1901, as follows:
“Be it known by the legislature of West Virginia:
“1. The Commissioner of Labor is hereby authorized to organize and
establish in connection with the bureau of labor a free public
employment bureau for the purpose of receiving applications from
persons seeking employment and applications from persons seeking to
employ laborers.
“2. No compensation or fee shall be charged or received directly or
indirectly from persons applying for work, information, or help
through said department. The Commissioner of Labor is hereby authorized
to employ such assistance and incur such expense as may be necessary
to carry into effect the purpose of this act, but such assistance and
expense shall not exceed $500.00 per annum,” etc., etc.
In compliance with this act of the legislature a free public employment
bureau has been established at Wheeling, twelve miles from Moundsville
penitentiary. This will not only be the means of furnishing men with
work who have never been in prison and thus keep them out, but will be
a privilege much appreciated by those who have just been released. It
would be wisdom on the part of the lawmakers of every state to thus
provide a similar institution somewhere near their state prisons.
To the prisoner whose term has just expired we desire to give a few
words of advice. You now start out in life anew. There are great
responsibilities before you. No doubt many of you the world will
meet with a frown, and look disdainfully upon you because of your
past career, or that you have been in prison. Do not give way to
discouragement under such circumstances; face the world with a smile,
shun the places of vice and wickedness, shun evil companions; and on
the other hand, seek society that will be elevating. If strong drink
was at one time a temptation to you or the cause of your downfall,
shun the places where it is sold or used as you would shun death
itself. Likewise shun the card-table and pool-room, which only lead
to a drunkard’s life. Always have courage enough to say No when evil
companions seek to lead you astray. There is a God in heaven who will
help you. Let not a day pass by without prayer to him for his direction
and his protection. If you have never received a change of heart, do
not rest satisfied nor cease pressing the battle on that line until
you have obtained the peace of God in your soul, which is beyond
understanding and flows as a river from the throne of God. You may
have many temptations to fall back into your old habits of life, but
by persistent resentment and applying to the Lord for help you will be
enabled to come out victorious. I remember a few years ago a young man
was released from a prison in New York because of his good behavior
and was given an honorable discharge. He did not care to take up his
old habits again, but as he wandered about from place to place meeting
old companions and associating with them, he found great difficulty in
refraining from picking people’s pockets, as he had been in the habit
of doing in former years. When the temptation came upon him it was
almost like the mania of a drunkard for strong drink, but by asserting
his manhood and making a firm resolve and acting upon it, he decided
to live a true and honest life. He left his associates to attend a
religious meeting where he heard the gospel preached in all its purity,
and there he yielded himself to God and was pardoned of all his actual
transgressions. Although the effects of his sinful, wicked life had
been so great that he had many struggles for months afterwards, he had
taken a step forward and there was a marked change in his life from
that time as well as in his heart, and soon he became established in
the ways of truth and righteousness, married a respectable lady, and
has ever since lived the life of the righteous and been highly esteemed
by those who know him.
A more striking illustration of the appreciation of freedom could
scarcely be given than that of the recent liberation of the Younger
Brothers. A little over a quarter of a century ago the state of
Missouri and surrounding country were terrorized by daring raids made
by the Younger Brothers and James Brothers, who formed a company of the
most daring outlaws and bandits known in this country.
These desperadoes were captured and incarcerated in prison at
Stillwater, Minn., in close confinement for almost twenty-five years.
It is reported that for fifteen years their lives have been reformed,
and in July, 1901 they were liberated under the parole law with the
restrictions that they were not to leave the confines of the state of
Minnesota. Neither are they allowed to drink intoxicants nor lead a
life that is anything but sober and industrious.
[Illustration:
COLE YOUNGER. JAMES YOUNGER.
]
During the twenty-five years of their prison life the outside world
had made many changes. There had been many wonderful inventions, and
when released they were like school children on a playground. They
hardly knew which way to turn. The outside world was all strange to
them. Although being men whose years number into the fifties, they
went about as children, laughed and cried alternately for joy, talked
by telephone, rode in an electric car, and enjoyed themselves in many
ways, while kind friends aided in clearing away the mists caused by
twenty-five years of awful solitude. In order to better understand
their appreciation of freedom we here quote their conversation upon
entering the city. Cole Younger remarked to his brother: “I assure you
that this is the best moment of my life. Just think of it! From now I
can act just the same as any one else, but I suppose it will be hard
for me to confine myself to the new rules that I find on the outside.
I have been accustomed to going to bed early, and I expect I will want
to keep early hours when I get out. You can not imagine how I felt to
put on this brand-new suit of store clothes this morning. Only once
before since we came to this prison, a quarter of a century ago, have I
donned citizen’s attire, and that was when I put on the deputy warden’s
suit and sat for a photograph. My clothes look a little odd to me; they
are not quite in style with my regulation first-grade prison suit, but
I suppose they go on the outside. Bless God and our loyal friends for
this moment, which is one of supreme happiness. For the first time in
many years I feel relieved. I feel now as if a great unbearable load
of some kind has been lifted from my shoulders, and that this is the
beginning of a new life. Boys, I want to thank you from the bottom of
my heart for your assistance.”
Although these men were daring desperadoes when placed in prison, yet,
notwithstanding the great reformation that has taken place in their
lives during these years of solitude, we do not wonder that their
actions were like those of children, when we take into consideration
that they were both sentenced for life. We trust their future days
may prove to prison officials and the world at large that the Younger
Brothers are worthy of such a favor, and that their future career and
this action of the Minnesota officials may be an impetus towards the
liberation of every life prisoner, giving them a chance once more to
delight in the freedom which men should enjoy.
A few years ago, in conversation with the Governor of Colorado, he
related an incident of a boy seventeen years of age whose mother was a
widow. He came to Denver and one day while on the street met a young
man who was a stranger, with whom he had not been in company very long
until the stranger friend suggested that they take a ride. A horse
and carriage was near by and as no owner was present the stranger
proceeded to untie the horse and order his young friend to get in.
Scarcely realizing what he was doing he obeyed. And away they went,
driving as rapidly as possible for several miles, when they stopped
and the stranger bade his young friend good-by, leaving him in charge
of the horse and carriage. He was then to some extent awakened to the
situation, but thought he would return the carriage to the place where
it was procured, or if possible turn it over to the owner. But before
reaching the destination he was captured by the authorities and taken
to jail and was soon bound over to answer to the charge of stealing a
horse and carriage. The Governor stated that at that time he was judge
of the court. The boy and his mother feeling so sure that he would be
released on account of his innocency, as he had not the least intention
of stealing, did not procure a lawyer, and after the witnesses had been
examined and the prosecuting attorney had made his plea, the Governor
stated there was nothing for him to do only sentence the boy for a year
in the state prison, although he said at the same time he was sure the
boy was innocent.
I would not feel clear in closing this volume without making a further
plea to the reader, and especially all Christian people, to put forth a
special effort in supplying prisons of every kind with good religious
literature, such as will appeal to the consciences and hearts of men
and women and lead them to a better way. Aside from our penitentiaries
there are many thousands of jails, work-houses, infirmaries, hospitals,
and places of confinement, which have been so sadly neglected that we
even wonder how we can all be held guiltless in the day of judgment if
we do not put forth some effort in this line. Aside from the good books
and tracts placed in their libraries a number of good religious papers
should be sent to all these places weekly. If you can not visit the
prison in person use your dimes or dollars to expend in supplying the
prisoners with good literature.
With the knowledge of the fact that our own boys, our dearest friends,
or even ourselves, are liable to be falsely charged and sent to prison
innocent, our sympathies should be awakened all the more to help those
who are guilty, that we may therefore lend a helping hand to turn
them from the ways of sin and wickedness into the ways of truth and
righteousness.