Rensselaer Union, Volume 5, Number 26, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 20 March 1873 — Story of a Released Convict. [ARTICLE]

Story of a Released Convict.

It is not impossible for one who has been iu State’s prison to succeed in life, and make a virtuous record for himself, in spite of the coldness and suspicion with which society looks upon such people. In most prisons when convicts are released the authorities give them a small setting out, and make efforts to provide them employment. One case is published in the Charlestown Ohronicle? Last year a man, known by the fictitious name of Jack Hunt, who had been confined in the Charlestown (Mass.) State Prison, was discharged on account of good behavior five months sooner than his sentence specified. He had been a pickpocket, and while confined in the jail at Springfield, had been induced to turn from wickedness by the influence of the Sunday school of that place. His story after his discharge, as related by himself, is substantially as follows: The State agent paid his fare to Chicago, and from that place he took passage for St. Louis. On the way, notwithstanding his good resolutions, he was tempted to return to his old trade, and pulled “an old woman’s leather,” but his conscience smote him so that he returned the pocket-book to her before she left the, train, first asking her if she had lost anything. He says he felt mean enough when she said, “Well if you ain’t an honest fellow!” He arrived at St. Louis with only $1.20, and at the end of three days paid his last ten cents for something to eat. Tired and discouraged, he felt that there was no way for him but to go back to his old trade. In his distress he prayed most heartily for help, and going out on a street, heard a great noise, and saw a runaway horse dashing toward him. Quick as thought, he grabbed a drygoods box, and, aS the team came along, smashed it over the , horse’s head, and seized the reins. Two children were in the carriage, and when their father came up he gave Hunt a SSO greenback; and when the poor fellow told him he would rather have a good job than the bill, took him into hia employ. Hunt some time after told the man the whole story of his life, and as a reward for his confidence, his employer gave him books, and time to study, and then taught him himself. ■ Syracuse, N. Y., ia to lose 125 families who have located land UKansaa, and will I form a colony there