For more than four decades a man has been on the run from the law, but after falling ill due to a stroke he decided to turn himself in to law enforcement officials.
After being convicted of the larceny of about $200 in 1967, Clarence David Moore escaped from jail three times to avoid his seven-year sentence.
Naturally his status as an escapee kept him from using his legitimate identification to secure a driver’s license, or a social security card. The lack of those two things would have made it hard for him to secure medical attention should he need it.
Now, more than 40 years since his escape from jail, he needs help from the jail he absconded.
It’s hard to discern his true motive for turning himself in though.
On one hand his willingness to go back to jail could be seen as a way to atone for his crime, which at this point seems like so much less than a simple misdemeanor.
If that’s the case his action is commendable in that he is willing to serve out his remaining years.
However, by turning himself in he also knows that he will receive free medical care.
Free to him since inmates being kept in law enforcement custody are provided medical care on the taxpayer’s dime.
With that in mind it could be easy to look upon this story with a bit of contempt. However, it’s pertinent to remember that since his escape he had to give up his legal identity.
When you legally don’t exist you can’t just walk into a hospital and expect treatment.
So, in closing Moore giving himself up to law enforcement could be viewed as his only option to not only atone for his sins, but also find some peace in the final days of his life.