The Nation Behind Prison BarsHerr, George L. (George Lewis)
Religion
The Nation Behind Prison Bars
Herr, George L. (George Lewis)
Church work with criminals; Evangelists
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"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.
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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 nobly 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.
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The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our
refuge.--Psalm 46:7.
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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."
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I know not how to go.--1 Kings 3:7.
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Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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