The Nation Behind Prison Bars Part 10

Bro. Herr never fails to extend the invitation of the gospel; in fact, that is his strong point, and is recognized by him to be the most important part of his work as an evangelist. His labor was rewarded, as he won eight souls for our Lord and Saviour.

The following representatives, members of the present General a.s.sembly, were present at the morning services: W. H. Jones, Princeton, Ky.; John T. Shanklin, Johnson, Ky.; W. A. B. Davis, Mt. Vernon, Ky.; Albert Butler. These gentlemen have been coming regularly, which proves that they are interested in our welfare, and also devoted to the church services. We are always proud of their presence, and invite all their colleagues.

At the afternoon Christian Endeavor service, Bro. Herr made an extemporaneous address in which he revealed the secret of his wonderful success as a soul-winner, which the writer would call unlimited charity, and inexhaustible brotherly love; the love that always instantly forgives, and as quickly extends a hand to help a fallen brother rise.

The eulogy he paid his wife, whom he acknowledged to be the inspiration to his life, was most beautiful. At this service he won five more souls for his hire, making thirteen for the day. HENRY E. YOUTSEY.

CHAPTER EIGHT

A MAN OF HONOR

For several years I have been deeply interested in the men confined in the prison, and in the betterment of their condition. Each time I held service in the prison I came in contact with, and was very much encouraged and a.s.sisted by the warden's great kindness. He did much to improve the conditions of life within the prison walls. G. L. H.

[Evening Post.]

FRANKFORT, Ky., Jan. 23.--The body of Edward E. Mudd, late warden of the Frankfort State Reformatory, who died yesterday morning, was taken this morning to his former home at Glendale, in Hardin County, where it will be buried this afternoon.

Yesterday afternoon the body lay in state in the prison chapel and was viewed by 1,300 convicts.

-------- My son, if sinners entice thee, consent thou not.--Prov. 1:10.

Five floral designs were sent from the penitentiary. The guards and the deputy wardens and the clerks sent two, a few of the "trusties" sent another, and the white prisoners and the colored prisoners each sent a design. These latter were paid for in 5 and 10-cent contributions.

The Prison Commission, which is in session, ordered flowers sent from Louisville, and adopted the following resolution:

"Resolved, That in the death of Edward E. Mudd, warden of the State Reformatory at Frankfort, the State of Kentucky has lost a valuable public official, and the prison has been deprived of an ideal executive.

"His long experience in prison work had supplemented his natural ability, with the result that he brought to a difficult task a trained mind and an admirable judgment. He was firm without being severe; gentle without being weak; with a heart full of kindness for the unfortunates under his control.

"The Board of Prison Commissioners recognized his worth; had the fullest appreciation of his manliness, his integrity and his devotion to duty.

They sought his advice on all important matters, and in his demise they realize that the State has sustained an irreparable loss. The sincere sympathy of the board is hereby extended to his bereaved wife and children."

Until a successor to Warden Mudd is appointed one of the commissioners will be constantly in Frankfort.

-------- Neither do I condemn thee; go and sin no more.--Jno. 8:11.

CHAPTER NINE

JIM O'BRIEN: MODERN MIRACLE

By George L. Herr

Several years ago I met in the Jefferson County jail, Louisville, Ky., "Dad O'Brien," one of the worst criminals I have ever known. Fifty odd years of age, forty years a thief and twenty-five years behind the bars.

The sentence in the jail was a light one--one year and a half--for having received stolen property, but he had stolen from one to tens of thousands. He was son of a prominent physician of Cincinnati, for twenty years professor of anatomy in the Ohio Medical College. He began by stealing from his mother's purse and then, when punished by his father, would steal his father's instruments and sell them for revenge. His father, being a very stern man, drove "Billy" from home, and the night came on with no place to go.

-------- Verily, verily, I say unto you, he that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is pa.s.sed from death unto life.--John 5:24.

He led a low, degraded life, and was finally arrested and sentenced to serve ten years in the Columbus penitentiary. When he was about to serve his first sentence--which seemed to him a lifetime--a young lady, an old schoolmate and who had been visiting him in jail, proposed marriage to him, so she could have the right to visit him in Columbus and provide him with the comforts of life, as far as possible. She was a girl of means, and he was stunned by the proposal. For, he said, he had not thought of such a thing as a wife. But he told her to come back the next day and he would let her know. She did, and he accepted and they were married on the eve of his leaving for the penitentiary. He only served part of the sentence, and when released went to the home of the girl and began life in a new way, only to fall in the old rut in a short time. He kept up his criminal life for years.

-------- "But this is a people robbed and spoiled; they are all of them snared in holes, are for a prey, and none delivereth: for a spoil, and none saith, Restore. Who among you will give ear to this? Who will harken and hear for the time to come?"--Isaiah 42:22.

The good wife died, and after her death he became one of the most notorious bank robbers in this country. While in the county jail at Louisville, Ky., Dad's friends were standing n.o.bly by him. He had plenty of money sewed in his clothes to meet his every need. I tried hard to reach him, but he was determined not to have anything to do with a "Sky Pilot," as he called me. The first time I spoke to him he almost spit in my face, but that never daunted me. I was more determined to win him. I saw he was a diamond in the rough. He had a bright mind, a man filled with history.

While in prison in Louisville, Ky., he became interested, and determined to quit the old life. After this determination he immediately wrote his intentions to his old pals on the outside, and told them not to send him any more money, for he was done with that life. They told him he was a fool and had gone crazy, and everything else they could think of.

But he was that kind, when he made up his mind to do a thing he did it.

-------- The Lord of hosts is with us; the G.o.d of Jacob is our refuge.--Psalm 46:7.

Then it was my opportunity for the practical side of Christianity, for I believe in that side. His clean laundry must be supplied, extra food that his old companions had been having sent in from the restaurants must now be brought by the missionary from home. Many are the baskets of food I have carried from my cottage home to this man. But the time was coming when he was to be released and nowhere to go, and that was the thing that seemed to trouble him most.

I said: "Never mind, 'Dad,' when you get out of this prison-house come to my home, I'll take care of you and help you to a good life." Well, one night, at about 8 o'clock he knocked on the door. How glad wife and I were to see him! He often said, "How warm the fire looks and how home-like to see you all sitting around." We gave him a good warm supper, a good bed, the best room in the house, but that was not all he needed. The next day was the beginning of the real battle. The detectives were hounding him. But to keep them from rearresting him we sent him across the river until we could plead with the officers to give this man another chance. We believe had it not been for the great interest taken by John R. Pflanz, the jailer, at this time for this man, that he would have died in a cell in some far Eastern prison. He said, "What's the use? Let me alone; there is only one thing for me and that is to go back to the old life." We said, "'D,' we'll see you through."

-------- I know not how to go.--1 Kings 3:7.

All this time we were trying to find employment for him. All this time he was growing impatient and would say: "A great big husky fellow like me laying around on a little man like Brother Herr." He weighed about 190 pounds, but we would encourage him by saying, "Well, Dad, you know G.o.d's people have all things in common, and he knows you are here, and when he sends to us he sends it for you as well."

One day when we were talking, he said: "Brother Herr, those old charges in Chicago, St. Louis, Pittsburg, Cincinnati and New York are hanging over me and I must face them."

We said, "Well, Dad, if you have made up your mind you would rather live for G.o.d behind the bars than to live for the devil on the outside or the inside, G.o.d will see you through. Go and face these charges, and if you mean business, G.o.d will take care of you."

-------- I will guide thee.--Ps. 32:8.

He went first to St. Louis and told the judge on the bench that he had quit the old life forever. They looked at him, and even those who were his bitter enemies, said, "Give him another chance; go and be a man and we will help you." He came back to our home from St. Louis, stayed a few weeks and started for the other charges, encouraged by the last trip. He went to Chicago first, and they told him the same thing there; then he went to Cincinnati, then to Pittsburg, and they said, "Dad, if you mean business you shall have a chance." Then he went to New York where he and three other men had robbed a bank of $175,000. When he went in to see the New York people they did not know him. He had been living a Christian life for several months. Salvation changes the looks of a man, and takes away the hard lines and softens the eye; and when he told them who he was, they said: "My G.o.d! where did you come from and what are you doing here?"

He told these gentlemen what had taken place in his life, and of his determination for the future. Said one wealthy man, "Well, Dad, go on your way and may G.o.d be with you and help you."

-------- Fear thou not; for I am with thee; be not dismayed; for I am thy G.o.d. I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee.--Is. 41:10.

He went on a hunt for the old friend "Hinky d.i.n.k" down in the first ward. "Hinky d.i.n.k" saw him, paid for a week's lodging at the Mills Hotel, and gave him money for meals each day. Finally one day "Hinky d.i.n.k" and Dad, standing in the front of his (Hinky d.i.n.k's) saloon, called "the workingmen's bar," where they line up by the fifties at a time, looking in, "Hinky d.i.n.k" said, "Dad, you are worth $18 a week to me behind that bar." Dad said, "Me? Not me for $1,800 a week. I am a Christian, I have quit all that, never to return again." "Hinky d.i.n.k"

said: "Well, what do you want, anyhow?" Dad said: "I want to go to Cincinnati to the Holiness camp meeting." "Hinky d.i.n.k" said, "Where?"