There are no details as to how this man escaped the penitentiary, but the reason why is plain: his mother needed him. The man escaped, helped him mum, and then turned himself back in again to finish off his sentence.
Escapes from Pen to Help Mother — Returns
Jackson, Miss., Jan. 22. — When Governor Brewer arrived at his office this morning, he announced that he was going to be very busy and gave orders that he was not to be disturbed.
Shortly afterwards, came a white faced, grim looking man, who pushed his way unheedingly toward the governor’s office.
“Here, you can’t go in there,” said an excited secretary, as the grim looking stranger laid his hand on the knob of the gubernatorial office.
“Can’t I?” inquired the stranger, and immediately disproved the assertion.
Governor Brewer was annoyed. What is the use of being a governor unless your orders are obeyed?
“Well, what do you want?” he demanded of the stranger.
“I don’t. You do. I’m John Brock, the murderer who escaped from the penitentiary three weeks ago. I want to tell you a story.”
“What!” yelled Governor Brewer, and rose hastily from his seat.
“You needn’t do that,” said the man as he saw the governor’s hand reaching to push a button. “I’m not violent. I’ve come to give myself up. But I wanted to tell you about it.”
Governor Brewer mopped his forehead, and sank back into his seat. Brock drew forward a chair, hitched up his trousers, and made himself comfortable.
“One month ago,” he said, “I in the other penitentiary, heard that my father had deserted mother. So, of course I had to escape. I laid my plans, and a week later carried them out. I went to the old home. Mother wasn’t there. I hunted around until I found her, and made arrangements so she would be cared for.
“That’s all fixed up now. So I have come to give myself up. But I thought I’d better tell you about it in case the warden is angry with me.”
Brock stopped, and Governor Brewer mopped his forehead again.
“Yes,” he said quite so. “Tell about the arrangements you have made for your mother.”
It was difficult to get Brock to talk, but at last he did so, and told the governor the whole story. Then he was led away to be taken back to the penitentiary, but his story has so impressed Governor Brewer that a pardon for Brock is not at all unlikely.
Source: (1912, January 22). Escapes from Pen to Help Mother. The Day Book.
