The day book. [volume], July 30, 1915, NOON EDITION, Image 21

About The day book. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1911-1917

Image provided by: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Library, Urbana, IL

                
PAROLE LAW RETURNS TO PEN
MAN EARNING HONEST LIVING
The story of a paroled convict who
was sent back to Joliet for two years
b.ecause he left Chicago to get work
is holding the attention of Former
Judge McKenzie Cleland. He has
written the state board of pardons
asking mercy for the young fellow.
Ray Martin, known in Joliet as
Convict 2,292, was arrested two years
ago. While drunk he gave a bartend
er a check which was rejected by the
bank.
He was sent to Joliet for two years
but at the end of the first year he
was released on parole for one year.
He at once furnished a place for his
wife, who had supported herself while
he was in prison, and secured a po
sition. A few months later he. lost the job.
A three-months' search did not un
cover another. Martin and his wife
were starving.
He wrote to Warden Allen at Joliet
and reminded him that he had of
fered to cancel the parole at the end
of six months if Martia.behaved. He
got no answer.
The parole law says that an ex
convict: cannot leave the state until
his parole is served: Martin thought
his time was-done, so he went to New
York and secured work in. a hospital.
One day a man who 'was an inmate
of Joliet with Martin drifted into the
hospital He asked Martin to give
him money fdr.dope and upon being
refused told the police 'Martin was
wanted in Illinois.
He was arrested and brought be
fore a judge, but discharged. The
police, However, as soon as he left the
court, took him again into custody
and he was returned here. Once in
Illinois he'was re-sentenced for two
years for violation of parole.
The boy claims that the only
crime he has committed was to leave
the state to find work and support
his wife.
"It was either keep running into
debt, going hungry and seeing my
wife suffer or else steal to supply
them," reads the young man's plea
for mercy at he hands of the pardon
board. "I chose neither, but did go
elsewhere in search of employment,
which I think was the right thing."
Cleland has asked the state board
of pardons to reconsider Martin's
case.
o o
HE STRUGGLED HARD
Benevolent Old Lady Did you
struggle against the consequences of
temptation?
Prisoner Sure I did.
Benevolent Old Lady Ah, but you
should have fought a little harder. If
you had you wouldn't be in jail now.
Prisoner I done the best I could,
leddy. It took seven cops to get me
to the station.
NOT IN STOCK
"I asked the waiter here the other
night whether this place had a con
science." "What did he say?"
"He said he'd go and see, but he
didn't think they had. Anyway, he
said, if they did have it it was on the
bill, and if it wasn't on the bill it was
extra."