STYLE OF PETITION BEING CIRCULATED
IN ANDERSON'S BEHALF.
TO HIS EXCELLENCY, THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES:
Sir: -- We, the undersigned citizens of Kansas City, Missouri, respectfully petition your excellency to grant a full pardon to one Charles W. Anderson, who is now confined in the federal prison at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, and in support of this petition beg to submit the following brief statement of the facts:
The prisoner, Anderson, was confined in the prison nearly thirteen years ago, at the age of 21 years, under a five-year sentence for larceny from the postoffice of Stillwater, O. T. He served within eight months of his term (allowed time off for good behavior), when he embraced an opportunity to escape and fled to Kansas City, where he has been for the last nine years. On the 19th day of April, 1907, another ex-convict, who was confined in the prison at the same time, recognized Anderson, and disclosed his whereabouts to the federal authorities, and for the $60 reward originally offered for his return, Anderson was immediately arrested, and on the next day was taken back to prison.
During the nine years that Anderson lived in this community, we have learned to respect and honor him as one of our best citizens. He married an estimable young lady, and to them was born a daughter three year ago. He worked hard until he accumulated sufficient funds to start a small business of his own, and always encouraged his few employes along the lines of honesty and sobriety. His industry and his devotion to his home and family have won for him the respect and confidence of this community to an unusual degree, and we can safely say that there is not anyone of us in whose integrity greater confidence has been reposed than in Mr. Anderson, and this has extended over a period of nine years. We fell, therefor, that these years of exemplary life has fully atoned for a crime committed when a mere boy, and that the ends of justice will be the best subserved by restoring him again to his family, and we ask this with the full confidence that if clemency is extended to him he will be as good a citizen in the future as he has been for the last nine years. He was confined in prison under the name of William January.
CELL OCCUPIED BY ANDERSON IN
THE FEDERAL PRISON.
