A TALL TALE.

Timaru Herald, Volume XCVIII, Issue 18084, 19 November 1924, Page 9

A TALL TALE.

FROM AMERICAN PRISON.From San Quentin Penitentiary, across tho bay . from San Francisco, comes proof of the proverb than three is some good in tlie worst of. menThree of San Quentin’s; convicts offered to go to the gallows iii the place ot one of tlieir comrades in stripes. I hoy pleaded to be allowed to exchange their lives for him. But it was - not so inin-h love for tlieir fellow-convict as from loyalty to their penitentiary. The condemned man had been pitching his prison to baseball victory -since ho v.-.-ij g vetoed a temporary reprieve from. i hati"man, and was hailed as. tlie greatest "pitcher St. Quentin lever had. The inmates now declared that they could not affoi'd to lose him,.and to prevent that catsastro'phe befalling the institution three of his ...admirers demanded that one of them be permitted to keep bis engagement on the gallows! Tivo of them were fellow members of the team, and another was a loyal enthusiast of the American game. _ ' . . Tho baseball hero of San Quentin was Clarence fluffy) Reid, aged 19, who was to hang a fortnight previously for killing a man in a hold-up. of a gambling house. After the State Governor had refused a reprieve the v trial judge was instrumental, in securing a stay of execution, on the ground the new evidence bail been discovered. During the two weeks Reid had twice pitched the “!:ritne team” to victory in games against teams Irom San Francisco baking houses. In the first lie scored a 1 to 0 victory, striking out twelvo men and allowing only three hits. In the next game he struck out nine men arid allowed only live hits. “tie’s the best pitcher San. Quentin ever bad,” a deputation of convicts told the Warden after tlie second triumph, “and we. can't afford to let him go. Wo want a winning team, and are willing to pay tho pike” 'then tho offer was made that .-<;;o of (ho thi;ee volunteers be allowed to give his neck for the honour of old Sac Quentin. The proposal was taken to tho attention of the Governor.