Scathing lectures are often given those asking pardon for the undeserving, by the members of the board. “Do you think fifteen months is too much for a man who shot his wife? It was not his fault she did not die,” the chief justice recently told some friends of a man who had hunted up and shot a wife who had left him. “If my sister were outraged by a man, shooting would be none too good for him,” the governor recently told a smooth-tongued attorney who was making a plea for a man serving a long sentence for a heinous crime.
So it goes. There is mercy for a few; there is the stern and unrelenting law tor the many.
PRESS NOTICES.
MORE LIGHT.
Mr. Heilbron's book on Convict Life at the Minnesota State Prison should obtain a wide circulation. The world outside regards the world inside much as it would regard another planet, and is curious accordingly. As a general rule, the “heroes” of this work of art are saying nothing and spinning twine and when they get back to Civilization they keep up the habit. While apt to examine books of this kind in a decidedly critical light, the heroes aforesaid will find in this one no misstatements of fact and no flights of fancy. The illustrations too are excellent, the one of No. 1055's back being a speaking likeness. Another first-class picture is the one which reproduces the magnificent polish on Mr. Nelson's counter in the tailor shop. The bindery, too, that smoothly running one-man department, has quite a palatial appearance. The “chiel amang us takin'” flashlights is to be congratulated. It may be doubted whether a copy of this little book will hereafter be found in every home in the state, but it would not do any harm. Maybe when Horace was hesitating about signing papa's name in papa's checkbook, the family copy would strike his eye and induce him to—go ahead?—
(Prison Mirror, July 29, 1909.)
A NOVEL VOLUME.
“Convict Life at the Minnesota State Prison” Published by Mr. W. C. Heilbron of St. Paul.