something entirely unknown
to the public, as well as to his own relatives, but I came to know it during
the last four months of his life, when I enjoyed his confidence. He has
helped many a man out of prison, and made several long trips
at his own expense to plead with court officials in the prisoner's
behalf. I have known of relatives of the prisoners, who came
to Lincoln and their money gave out. Quietly and without any
advertising he helped them along, and at times sent them to their
home. I have known of two cases where a prisoner after serving
a long sentence was to be rearrested and taken to another state
to stand trial on another charge. Mr. Delahunty being satisfied
that they had been punished more than sufficient, and that they
were going to lead upright lives, instead of accepting a reward,
corresponded with the prosecutors and had the cases stricken
from the records I have known of a prisoner, being a strange
man in a strange land, standing upon
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the scaffold, ready to forfeit his life upon the
gallows, turn to Mr. Delahunty and with tears streaming down
his face, say: "Jim, don't let them cut my body to pieces." Mr.
Delahunty as he shook his hand and bad him a last farewell, said: "No,
my boy, I will see that you get a Christian burial." And
he did. When, urged on by a little gang of hypocrites, three
desperadoes with murder in their hearts, set out to dynamite
and shoot their way out of prison, there stood the brave James
Delahunty, the warden, and unaided fought the three of them.
When finally he fell to the floor mortally wounded his last words
were, "Oh, my Lord." Such a man was James Delahunty.
Is it a wonder that his fellow townsmen honored him with public
office, or that five governors placed him in a responsible position
in the service of the state? Or is it it strange that every convict
in the prison but one, signs a petition and presents it to Warden
Smith to retain Mr. Delahunty as deputy warden?
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