Universal Weekly (1914-1915)

10 UK UNIVERSAL WEEKLY Jailbird Smothers Watchman in Bank Vault ANY a convict, if given ;i chance upon his release from prison, would be only too willing to "go straight". Often, when the gates of Sing Sing or the state prison open upon the time-expired convict, he finds that he is still a hunted man. Police keep well informed of his new address ; he is shadowed by detectives, and if public clamor demands the arrest of some one for a crime, frequently the convict is "framed" and clapped again into jail. With his record against him CAST. /hit Solati Ben Mary Holland Anna the convict has little chance of acquittal before a prejudiced jury, and a few weeks after his arrest the prison gates yawn again before him. Even if the police do not force him to act as a stool pigeon, the convict is con stantly open to temptations from his old pals. He may move to another city and attempt to "go straight", but in prison he has made hundreds of acquaintances who, upon their release, scatter to the ends of the eartih, and he is soon found out. Rather than risk exposure at the hands of these old companions the ex-convict sub mits to blackmail or goes back into the old life, eventually to find himself in the police net. Society, as a whole, has no place for the reformed convict . Once a "jailbird" the stigma remains and in the eyes of his fellow men the ex-convict is always open to suspicion. "Hounded", the story of which is here told, relates the hopeless struggle of a former convict to live a clean life after his release from prison. Jim Nolan and his partner, Mart, are do ing time for the robbery of Rolland's bank. The banker's daughter, •while doing criminal reform work, becomes interested in Jim. Influ enced by her wholesome personality, Jim is inspired to "go straight". At the expiration of his term, Mary irses her social influence to get him a position and to help him make good. Jim is promoted rapidly, but the stigma of "jailbird" ■sticks to him and the latent instinct to steal is revived by the unceasing efforts of Mart to drag him hack to the old life. Fearing that he will yield. Jim appeals to his one friend, Mary, to help him in his fisht against temptation. She does so, nobly. The proud old bnnker disapproves of his daughter's growing friendship with the "jailbird", but Mary stands by Jim. The friendship of Mary and Jim ripens into love. Rolland dis "Houudetl", two-reel Hex melodrama, in which Ren Wilson and Anna Luther play leading roles, features loot of hank, death of watchman in the vault, an escape from prison am! the death of the hounded jailbird's wife and child. Convict, on verge of second murder, inspired to "go straight" by vision of dead wife and child. Released Thursday, December Scenario by J. E. Connor. Produced by Ren Wilson. 31. Wilson hut her The Informer, owns his daughter. She marries Jim. In! his loneliness the banker regrets his: action, and tries to win Mary away • from Jim. To do this he causes him to' lose his position and hounds him from ■ place to place, using influence to discredit; Jim in every way possible. Driven to the wall, Jim puts up a hard, fight. A mortgage on the little home is due, and without means with which to meet the obligation, Jim foresees his wife and babe turned into the streets. In despair, he listens to the voice of the. tempter. Mart, who plans another rob bery of Rolland's bank, with the co-operation of Newton, a thieving bank clerk. After a fight with temptation, Jim yields, and together they loot the bank. They are forced to lock a watchman in I vault, where he dies. The clerk, New ton, is arrested for the crime. He turns state's evidence, implicating Jim an<{ Mart. When arrested for the crime, Jim keeps the truth from his wife, and is dragged to prison with the picture in his heart of Mary as he last saw her, standing in the doorway with their baby clasped to her breast. This picture is his one source of consolation during the dark hours which follow. The evidence of Newton convjets Jim and hisenmpauion, and the\ are given a life sentence. Refusing to renounce her faith in Jim. Mary is driven from the little home, and finally is stricken during an epidemic. Sh» and her child die. On hearing this Jim becomes a hopeless degenerate, hating the world, in general, and Newton, the informer, in particular. He has contrived tokeep some of the stoleD bank notes, and witt these be bribes a guard into releasing him for a few hours. Newton, the informer, now hasa wife and a child, a beautiful home and happiness. The jailbird comes for his revenge. There is a struggle, but Jim, in his fury, is the stronger. Newton, bound to a. table and gagged, looks up at the grinning face of the "jailbird". Then Jim turns to see a woman standing in the doorway with a baby clasped to her breast. With his mind weakened by his sorrows. Jim imagines them to be his own wife and child come back to guide him in the "straight way". All thought of rerenge fades from his mind, the knife drops from his hand and he silently steals from the house and back to prison. »S«tiv Himself, Accuses Nolan of Rank Rohhinp.