money, and is in every
way a model citizen. I also recall the case of Billy Williams, an expert boilermaker
who was serving a long sentence. At the time the new boilers and stokers
were installed, he was put in charge of the installation. Besides
the value of his labor, he saved the state hundreds of dollars by
his valuable suggestions. He was also sent to the hospital at Kearney
and went unattended. He gave good satisfaction there. For his efficient
and faithful service, Mrs. Barker, the superintendent of the hospital,
wrote several letters to the board of pardons, asking them to act
favorably in his case. While at Kearney he made friends with several
of the leading men of that town, who added the weight of their word
to the application for a pardon. Warden Melick also appeared before
the board in his behalf, and finally a pardon was granted. He located
in Colorado, opened a shop of his own and prospered.
When Williams was pardoned the hospital
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at Kearney needed another man and Frank Martindale
was sent over there. Martindale was assistant to the master mechanic
of the prison and one of the handiest men with tools that I ever
saw. Once a small private safe of my own refused to open, and after
working on it for a long time I sent for Martindale. He looked at
the lock for a few minutes, went out for a wire and quickly opened
the safe. We disliked to let him go, but he deserved it. He, too
went without a guard, and worked hard and faithfully. About a month
alter going to Kearney, he asked permission to go to the bedside
of his dying mother who lived in an adjoining state. He was granted
permission; again he made a long journey without a guard. "That
is the last you will ever see of Martindale," said one of the
guards. But on the day set for his return, in walked Martindale.
He told the warden that his mother was getting better. I told him
what the guard had said, and said that I was glad to see
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