The Newberry herald. [volume] (Newberry, S.C.) 1865-1884, 1874-08-12
He waS Born Soy

k3S was DUH SV" .-
On our outside will be found q short
history of the boy Jesse Pomeroy, the
ehild-murderer, the horrible details Of
whose crimes ill the imagination
with wonder and almost doubt that
nature could produce such character
as is now brought to view. The New
York Nesos calls him ''the champion
monster Of the period" and says. that
ofall the monsters born to monstrositE
that Nature has produced in human
form Jesse Pomeroy, the child torturer
and killer, seems to be the most nous.
trous. Although this phenomenal
bows deformity is identified with his
moral aud not his physical essence, he
must be considered no less Iusus
antur9 than the Siamese twins, the
children with two heads, and 9TH
er creatures brought into the world
with abnormal bodily attributes
Sometimes "a child is born with won
derfully exceptionalcapacity for mathe-
matical calculation, or far music, or
with astonishing powers Of memory,
or with some other gift that is marve-
lous. because far beyond the accus-
toned limit of Natures creation Of
such qualities. Fortunately, those &C.
centricities rarely assume the hideous
form of a primitive and uncomfortable
longing to inHict torture and death
upon ones fellow-creatures. 1t is
Jesse Pomeroy's terrible fate to have
been born with that propensity
born with the instincts of a hyena.
or with characteristic still more
horrible, for the hyena kills by the
impulse of hunger, Or Of brutal anger,
but that boy cuts and mangles and
murders in cold blood for the mere
Qualification Of the strange and devil
ish cruelty within him. Such cases
are as we have said, fortunately rare,
but Master Pomeroy IS not the first to
have demonstrated their possibility
The instance is authenticated Of a
family iu England that made it their
occupation to waylay travellers aod
nut them to q cruel death in the dis
NAL recesses Of a forest cave. There
have been men known, too, born with
the instincts of the vampire, with
literally a. thirst for human blood. 1t
happens no doubt oftener than any OF
US are aware, that people, perhaps
moving among US, have unnatural and
DANGEROUS longings and appetltes,
morbid impulses toward certain ex-
travagant actions, but are at the same
time possessed of sufficient power OF
will to resist the Satanic inclinations.
Master Pomeroy, however, seems to
be possessed of 6eud that completely
overmasters whatever there is Of hui
inanity in his nature. He does not
even exhibit a consciousness OF crime,
but is apparently destitute of the facul-
ty for repentance. and remorse. tie
tells the story of his crimes as sclen-
tist would recite the details Of a sue
cessful experiment. In his confession
OF the murder of little Katy Curran
he is as explicit and precise as an as
tropomer might be in setting down
his observation about Coggia's comet.
After telling how he entlced her to
the cellar, he adds "I followed her,put
nv left arm around her neck, my hand
over her mouth, and with my knife in my
right hand cut her throat" Society
shudders at the contemplation Of such
4 monster, but what then, Tnat IS So
cietv to do with him ? Hang him ?
No doubt skillful lawyer would be
able TO prevent that by proving to an
intelligent jury that the boy is not
responsible agent. Probably a com,
promise will have to be made by send
inc him 70 a lunatlc asylum; ont
when there is nothing very suggestive
of insanity in young Poneroy.s ap'
pearance and. conversation; . and it Is
quite possible that, after few years
Of confinement in mad-house, his
GOOD behavior and continued sem
blance of sanity might secure his dis
charge. These human devils have
generally the devils own cunning to
disguise the 6end in them. Jesse
Pomeroy's horrible infr,nity IS
part of himself. He was born 50
and he can no more be cured Of II
than the Siamese twins could be cured
Of the peeuliarity Of their twin birth