Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 39, Number 93, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 26 July 1907 — WILLIAM JANUARY IS SET FREE. [ARTICLE]

WILLIAM JANUARY IS SET FREE.

Missouri Man Like Jean Valjean Released from Knnsas Prison. William January, alias Charles W. Anderson, for whose pardon a petition .containing the signatures of 50,000 persons was presented to President Roosevelt three months ago, was released

from the Federal prison In Fort Leavenworth, Kan., Friday. Anderson returned to Kansas City, Mo., where he will eugage in business. lie denies a report that he intends to operate a pool hall. The case of January resembles that of Victor Hugo's hero, Jean Valjean. Anderson was convicted eleven years ago of robbing an Oklahoma postoffice and sentenced to the penitentiary for three years. He escaped two years later and went to Kansas City, assumed the name of Anderson, married and prospered. In April this year an exconvict who had known January In the penitentiary notified the warden of the man’s whereabouts nnd he .was rearrested and taken back to Leavenworth. Owing to the exemplary life Anderson had led In Kansas City, his neighbors started a movement for his release. The newspapers took up the case with the result that a petition, which is said to have contained the largest number of signatures ever appended to an appeal for a pardon, was forwarded to Washington. President Roosevelt reviewed tha oa«o, and, upon recommendation of At-torney-General Bonaparte, granted • pardon, effective at the expiration of three months from the time of his rearrest January has proved a model prisoner. He says seek to have his citizenship restored, and. If successful, will then ask the courts to change his name to Anderson for the protection of his wife and child. 2