Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1874-07-24
BOSTON'S BOY FIEND.
How He Tortured and Murdered
His Victims.
A SicIzening Story of Juvenile
DepraYitys

OF luVe1lle OeprdNAb1, MuhuA gu
fendish brutality which cause n invol-
untary feeling of horror throughout
the community. Connected with the
tragedy and its author are numerous
other startling crimes and eireum-
stances; which add to the case an intef-
est more than usually painful and re-
voting. The story is that of the muir
der-of ten year old girl by an eigh-
teen year old boy, the young criminal
being none other than Jesse Pomeroy,
who is already under Indictment for
the murder of small boy last spring,
and who had previously done service IN
a reformatory institution for cruelties
practiced upon other boys some four or
five years since. The history OF this
boy is strange one, and reads much
more like fiction than the sober truth.
He first came to public notice during
the summer Of 1872, when he tortured
and mutilated some eight or ten little
BOYS In the most shocking manner,
and it was only after half the police
force was put on his track that he was
detected and committed to the House
of Refuge and Correction. We have
conversed with a gentleman who is
well acquainted with all the eireum-
stances of his career of 1872, and who
had long conversation with him while
he was confined in the Refuge for the
mutilation of his little victims.
His mother, Mrs. II. H. POmeroy, a
respectable widow, for a number of
years kept a millinery and notion
store in Broadway, South Boston, and
had managed to give her son a very
respectable education. The boy him.
self, who is now sixteen years of age,
is rather remarkable in his appear
ance. He has pleasing and intelli-
gent countenance, while his right eye
is very prominent, and of CLASSY,
milky color, from which circumstance
tie victims of his orture in 1872 de-
scribed him as / large boy with a
white eye" His crimes were of a re-
markably morbid character. He would,
In 1872, go into the suburban streets
of the city carrying a small package,
and, upon meeting a well dressed boy
of five or SIX years, give him a sum OF
money to carry the package to a given
point, generally in some unfrequented
lane or wood. Young Pomery himself
would reach the same point by differ
ent route in advance of his victim, and
as soon as the boy would reach the
place the young fend would seize and
strip him, tie him to tree or telegraph
pole, and begin to torture him sys-
tematically. Sometimes he would cash
his victim with a knife, and leave him
fainting from loss of blood, to be found
hours afterwards by some accidental
passer-by. At other times he would be
prepared with papers of needles, and
alter tying up his victim, would fill his
arms and legs with needles of various
sizes, frequently driving them into the
bone. Then again he would vary this
system of torture by taking a heavy
leather thong and sitting it, impro-
wise a cato 'nine-t tails, with which he
would excoriate his captive.
Torture seemed to be his sole object
and his victims said that he was IN the
habit of laughing and dancing with de
light while administering 1t. The gen
tleman to whom we have referred found
him to be boy of more than average
| intelligence, and quite extensively read
He asked young Pomeroy what bool
he delighted most in read
ing, and he responded promptly
and with evident delight, "The His
tory of King Phillips War" Thu
| book details the circumstances of one
of the most terrible Indian wars thai
occurred during the early settlement o
New England. Upon reference to tn
book itself, it is found that the Indians
were In the habit Of torturing theI
captives In. much the same way tina
Pomeroy tortured the little boys VIII
fell into his power.
When asked if he regarded himsel
as an Indian, he replied that he was (
good deal better Indian than Kin
Phillip or any Of his warriors. Ate
being detected, he confessed to all hi
crimes, and was sentenced to seye
years confinement in the House c
Refuge and Correction. He did nc
chafe against the restraints impose
upon him, but submitted to thel
cheerfully, acknowledging the justiC
of his punishment, and apparently try
ing to atone for hisrevolting crimes. II
was penitent and tractable, and til
result was that in less than eightee
months he was pardOned out Of Il
Refuge.
His morbid nature had evident
undergone a change during his IL
prisonment, from torture to murde
although he had so skillfully cOncealC
his feelings that he deceived his keel
ers and the Board of Examinatio
Some FIVE months ago, and a short TIN
after his release, five small childr,
mysteriously disappeared from Il
southern portion of the city of BostC
within two or three weeks. At lengt
the mangled body of a boy mann
+ Johnny Millin was found in a mars
: The peculiar manner of mutilation
E once fixed suspicion upon thelad Pom
roy and he was arrested. When charg
t with the chine, he did not deny 1t, b
said "they ought to put him some pla
: where he could not do such things
:: He is now awaiting trial for the mu
I der of the child, Millin. On Saturd
I, last the mutilated remains of lit
> Katy Mary CurranwerefOund conceal
r In the cellar of a store room lately {
' cupied by his mother. The remains
h his other victims have not yet be
|