The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1871-03-06
PETITION OF FRANK MoaAUGHRAN.

ing small boy on Christmas Day, and sentenced
by Judges Ludlow aud Paxsou to ten years i'm
prisonment In the Eastern Peuitentiary, have evil
IDENTIFY inspired the friends of the badly-used
man to take active measures for his release, as
will be seen by the following petition which was
picked up in the street this morning by one of our
reporters and which wetake the liberty of laying
before the public. The arguments of McGaughran
are certainly unanswerable, aud they should
meet with theiprompt attention of his Excellency
John w. Geary, Governor of tie State of Penn
sylvania; and in order that all who may be dis
posed to see equal justice done to poor as well
as rich may aid In procuring McGaughran's
prompt release from durauce vile signatures to
the petition will be received at this office. We
expect early visit from Messrs. Richard
Ficken, William b. Mann, aud Lewis G. Cassidy,
three honorable gentlemen whose signatures to
McGaughran's petition will undoubtedly have
potent influence with his Excellency.
10 HIS hrcctlency Hon. John ". Geary,
Governor Of the Commonwealth Of Penn sylrdniG:
The petition of Frank McGaughran numby
prayeth and showetk that he now is and expects to
be- for long time to w.t. ten years, unjustly and
improperly deprived OF his liberty and OF that free
and untrammelled commune atlon with Society to
which he is entitled by the wise and beneHcent laws
of this Commonwealth, as expounded ana enforced
by the said John W. Geary, Governor OF Pennsyl-
vana IN the leading OF The Commonwealth
VS.. Richard J. Fcken.
Your petitioner humbly prayeth and showeth that,
on the 25th day OF December last to wit, the day
commonly called Christmas, while engaged in the
festive but permissible occupation see OF Com
monwealth vs.. FlckeH) OF shooting small boys, was
rudey, violently and maliciously seized and bound,
and despite his persuasion, protest and resistance
was, against his WILL conveyed to the cell OF one OF
the prisons in and for the city OF Philadelphia, to
wit, Moyamensng; and was there improperly and
unjusty confined OF his liberty, and was fed upon
finer aesthetic tastes revolted. Your petitioner fur
ther showeth that the first day OF March, instant
he was, Ui ct araniS removed and conveyed from his
cell in said prison. and was, greatly to the impair
ment Of his dignity and his sef-respect thrust into
square box upon four Wheels painted of sombre
color and drawn by two horses, bays-said box being
vulgary known and described rs THE BLACK MARIA;
and that he was made to accompany therein certain
sneak prostitutes and other vulgar
characters, TO the Court OF Quarter Sessions,
where he was, against the law established by
your Exceilency John W. Geary aforesaid put
upon his trial, his alleged oense being the aforesaid
shooting OF small boy, to w.t. one George H. Fury.
Further, your petitioner sheweth that, in ignorance
othe law OF the land writ aud estaoli shed by
Excellency, etc, in the case OF The commonwealth
Vs. Ficken, certain men, commonly called judges OF
the said court, together with person commonly
known as District Attorney who your petitioner
believeth and expecteth to prove to be political
opponent Of your Excellencys did, in contempt OF
the wise precedent set up by your ExcelleDcy In the
above cited proceed to try your said petitioner
under the color and pretense that the shooting Of
small boys in this Commonwealth was an indictable
and punishable oense, by virtue OF certain statutory
common law, did try him at the bar OF said COURT
and did, upon conviction, sentence HIM, In mockery
OF Justice as interpreted by your Exceency In the
case OF Commonwealth We. Ficken, to an imprson-
mept of ten years of solitary confinement at hard
labor In one of the prisons Of this Commonwealth
to wit, the Eastern Penitentiary
4, auoh altaf
he is entitled to under the precedent established
by your Excelency in the above often cited case Of
the Commonwealth vs. Ficken, by which all former
laws or statutory enactments against the free and
untrammelled shooting OF small boys are forever
abrogated extinguished, and made void In this
Commonwealth.
Further your petitioner representeth that his case
is Identical with that OF the said Fcken. excepting
that the small boy shot by your petitioner did judi
ciously and wisely die, while the small boy shot by
the said Fcken did live, but he until this day re-
mains cripple, and will so remain during his natu-
raj life.
1t being represented to your petitioner that your
Excelencys legs are now and will always be the
receptacle OF many hundreds OF bullets vicousy shot
into them by the Rebels at the battle OF Gettysburg
where, owing to your generaship and bravery, the
hungry hordes OF Lee were defeated, your Excel
eDcy will perceive that the fate OF the boy who died
was preferable to that OF the boy who lives as your
ExcelleDcy does, with lead mine in his leg. Your
petitioner Is assured that ne need not pr0long this
part OF his argument, because your Excellency
"knows how it is yourself"
Your petitioner further showeth, in order that his
Just and humble prayer for may be granted that
ne is poor man. and one ignorant or the ways that
are dark, through which the obsolete laws against
punishment for shooting small boys are evaded by
rich men like Ficken. When your petitioner was
incarcerated in a common jail, he was instructed and
Informed that 1t would be discreet and wise In him
to employ certain men learned in the law to defend
him against your EXcellencYs political enemy to
wit, the said Furman Sheppard, District Attorney
and being directed, he did employ said men,
learned in the law and powerful In debate and fluent
In rhetoric, but your petitioner now learns and ID
informed that his proper course established by we'll
known precedent, that is to say, in the case OF Com
monwealth VS.. Ficken would have been to employ
certain men commonly known as and called PAR
DON BROKERS, namely, one William b. Mann and
one Lewis C. Cassidy, who would theTeupon haYe
seen your EXceency. Your petitioner further
showeth that he is now for the first time made &C
auainted with the fact that the precedent In the
OF Commonwealth w. Ficken was bought at grea
price, and that in addition thereto, certain Ofcer
OF the "Rowpettoned that said precedent removing
the penalty for shooting small boys should be rem
dered void.
Your petitioner representeth and prayeth that h'
Is not now or never was rich man, and that h
Cannot pay to the said PARDON BROKERS, TO wit
William b. Mann and Lewis c. Cassidy, large sun
of money but he is informed and verify believes
that II a smaller sum will serve to show to your Elk
celency the injustice Of Furnishing poor man 70
shooting small boys, that such small sum will b
contr uted by the precinct managers out OF certai
election funds ia their possession; 1t being showl
to said managers that your petitioner, owing to hi