It seems there is no prison for old men. Apparently if you can survive into your 80s or 90s in the pen, your chances of getting freed dramatically increase.
From today's Times:
New York Frees Oldest Inmate
By SAM ROBERTSCharles E. Friedgood, who at 89 had been the oldest inmate in a New York State prison, was released on Tuesday and granted permission to live with a sister in Florida, where a daughter also lives, the State Parole Board said on Wednesday.
Granted, Friedgood -- who has the perfect name for this story -- is terminally ill. But there seems to be a long tradition of kicking the aged out on the street.
June 24, 1916
SING SING’S OLDEST INMATE FREEOSSINING, N.Y., June 23.—Joel C. Rundle, who is 75 years old and the oldest inmate of Sing Sing Prison, was pardoned today by Governor Whitman. Rundle had served eighteen years for killing a neighbor in Orange County and his pardon was sought by ex-Alderman A.H. Tompkins of Yonkers, who was a G.A.R. comrade of the old man. Governor Whitman also pardoned John E. Anhut, once lawyer for Harry Thaw, who was convicted of having tried to bribe officials to let Thaw escape from Matteawan. Anhut was paroled some time ago.
This next story reminded me of the film "The Shawshank redemption," when the character Brooks is released in old age but finds he has no place in the outside world.
May 30, 1924
PAROLED AT 80 IN VAINWarrant served on Sing Sing’s oldest Inmate—40 years behind bars
OSSINING, May 29.—Just after a a parole was ordered this afternoon for William De Witt, 80-year-old negro, Sing Sing’s oldest prisoner, a warrant for his arrest was lodged with the prison authorities by the Westchester County Court.
During the last sixty years De Witt has served twenty terms in various penal institutions in New York State for larceny. Since he was first sentenced in 1863 to the House of Refuge, New York City, he has spent more than forty years behind bars.
He now faces a charge of grand larceny in connection with a poor-box robbery in White Plains.
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