Salt Lake Telegram | 1938-11-21 | Page 2 | Author-Fugitive from Devil's Isle Waits for Roosevelt's Decision on Deportation

Fugitive Author-Fugitive From Prom Devils Devil's Isle le Waits For Roosevelt's Decision on Deportation NEW YORK Nov 21 Pi UP- pRene Rene Bell Belbenoit author of Dry Guillotine which describes his 15 years in the penal colony in French Guiana said today he is fearful of being sent back there even though a petition bearing names has been presented to President Roosevelt in his be be- half S If 5 3 go b bask k I go o back he remarked o Th Then n I will escape again unless I am killed And it i Is easy eMY to die in the colony Easy EMY to die with no one to take the blame Hes He's a dark little man weighing weighing weighing weigh weigh- ing hardly more than pounds with black curly hair His eyes are filled with witha a a profound sadness sadness sadness sad sad- ness his face deeply lined and he smiles only rarely Those who have read his book know his story story story-a a veteran of the World war at 19 with additional service in Morocco he was sentenced sentenced sentenced sen sen- to eight years in the South American colony for theft He made four frustrated attempts to escape witnessed nine behead behead- ings The final try for freedom successful he landed 17 months ago in California after two years of fighting his way by sea and jungle carrying 30 po pounds of manuscript His deportation ordered shortly short short- ly after he reached the United States has been fixed finally for December 15 and he sees little hope that he will be granted another another another an an- other extension and ultimate lib lii erty School children doctors lawyers lawyers lawyers law law- business men and church people signed the petition to save him but he has had no word that the president has reached a de de- de S Belbenoit never dreams of the colony though as a convict he dreamed of liberty He suffered from malaria there but New NewYork's NewYork's NewYork's Yorks York's climate has been kind to him He has read of Alcatraz island the so-called so Devils island in San Sari Francisco bay but the name brings a shrug to his shoulders There is no comparison none at all he said Why ordinary French prisons are worse than that In France prisoners are not allowed to talk or to smoke They spend 23 hours a day In their cells and exercise one hour hourin in the prison yard Its It's so terrible they all hope to get away to the prison colony because they think th they can escape