, 1875-08-14
JESSE n. PGMER0Y'S CASE.
His Mother takes the Ground thai He is
Innocent, and was Forced by Terror 20
Griminate Himself by Confession.

! Criminnte Himself by Confession.
| The following letter from the mother o
the unfortunate boy, Jesse II. Pomeroy. nov
under sentence of death for murder, received
by Mrs. Addie l.. Ballou, has been hsndet
US for publication
BosToS, July 5th, 1875.
DEAR FRIEND For such deem you BY
your writing me in this my hear of tronbl,
u feel it my duty to answer Immediately
Although l may differ with you in regard
to this ease, You have written to me express
ing sympathy with me, and feel deeply
grateful for your kindness, although 4
stranger to me- yet by your letter it show,
| that there Is one woman who does not fee
disgraced by writing TO poor heart-brOkeu
mother.
cannot write you that jesse is guilty OF
those terrible crimes, although he has been
convicteG-yet not proven-hy law.
You will, no doubt. be surprised, yet !
mean Just what | say there is no Justice in
Massachusetts for poor boy. Had he been
the son of some rich person, the case would
have had more thorough investigation
that is my view Of the subject
Jesses confession was given after the girl
was found in the cellar Of the store occupied
by three or four different parties having to
go there every day after coal, within three
feet of where the body lay. If three police
men searched the cellar, looked IN the verv
spot where it was found, and found nothing
if it was there, rhen don't see why there
WAS no smell, it being about six weeks after
the girl disappeared. When workmen hay-
ing worked there nine days without smelling
anything.
said his confession was made after the
girl was found-or the bones-for there WAS
nothing 10 recognize her by except some
shreds Of clothing, was fold.
and my other son We're dragged to prison,
and for what? Just to satisfy the public
l had done nothing, nor did dream of such
a thing that body being there, nor d.
believe to-day that it was. was taken from
my home bareheaded, to the station from my
work, thinking all the " hile that everything
was coming out right, aud could afford to
bear The stings and scorn of people that were
cast upon US, when this last blow fell upon
rr.n. crushing nay haart -3o.~-~- AL I
never can tell you what We have suffered
No pen can describe, no ongue can tell the
deep agony of that hour. From the first
believed the body was placed there after We
moved from the store, and that nerved me
up to more strength to bear, and determined
TO rise above il, believing yet, till at last the
terrible news came tnat Jesse had confessed
that he had done the deed
For a while WAS almost wild, bat when
| carae to reason the case, began to doubt,
not believing 1t possible that it could have
been done and we not know anything about
it. They told me Jesse would tell me al
about it, but when asked to see him, they
refused my request they kept me five weeks
and my Oldest hoy six, and after had beer
home about five or six weeks they allowed
me an interview. I knew Jesse thought The
world Of me, and knew it would nearly SCI
him crazy to have HE and Charley in Jail
My suspicious were correct, for when l go
the papers / saw by the chiefs testimony
that jesse had confessed TO save his mother
and brother. | was not surprised-I knew
( Jessie better than any one. and l knew hi
generous heart; and 10 day he would rathe
J suffer death than have harm come to us.
| do not doubt but that be was insane-drivel
insane by the treatment that has been heapeC
uPgn us. Jessie is no ordinary boy, but d,
! believe be is no criminal. If could see ant
talk with You, and tell you all the eircum
/ stances surrounding the mysterious affair,
think you would agree with me that there !
some terrible mystery about the whole affai
that has not been brought 10 light. jess
never was of a cruel disposition there neve
was more kind hearted boy. Is it not
little strange that his mother never saw
thing in The boy that would lead me TO sup
pose him capable Of committing such crime
Il is entirely different from his disposition
and The people have been blinded by Passio
and shut rhrir eyes 10 The real facts, and bee
blinded by the horrible crimes recently com
ni,ted in our midst; and as write you III
tn last blow has fallen. They tell me ths
nv boy is to die, and what for? Why,
satisfy the mothers of Massachusetts,. Yes
mothers? Bnt DO here declare that ii
time will come when this great injustice wi
be known. 1t may be too late to save Il
life of my boy. yet it must come sooner {
later. Mark what say. Massachusetts, vi
vet low in shame for myGTizg my 5oy, (,
murder it will surely be- 1 have No fear #
nv hoy: God will take care of him. r
member. - Vengeance is mine; will repal
} saith the Lord.
, Mr. Augustus was here; I think him
true friend. Did you see anything in Il
lock of hair 10 make yJu believe Jesse capab
of committing such crimes? l do not kno
a. eau get your kind letter TO jesse, as the
will not slIow it TO be given to him
,, Again [ thank you for your kindness
writing 10 heart broken mother Deep
, grateful. Mis-. r A Po&ERoY,
No 81 Poplar street.
-o->-0p-~~~~
= II you want to get around Bostc
l girl, tell her you understand her CRANE