Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1875-11-10
Novel Reading and Crime.


cause and effect but the one is sometimes
4 powerful stimulant to the other. \ case
which recently occurred in Boston has at :
" the boy murdcrer,' short time ago,
Killed two children, Il little boy and 4 lit
tie girl. He was tried, convicted, and
sentenced to be hanged. The governor of
NJ, ,l;s .thusetts and bis council, the most
eminent iurists, and leading men and wo-
men Of Boston. have been deeply con-
ccrncd as to what should be done with him
Many have petitioned for commutation of
the sentence to Imprisonment for life
Strange as it may seem, delegations of
ladies have bcseiged the governor and
council to carry out the sentence Of hang
inc. and it is now reported that it will
soon be done unless the decision should be
reconsidered.
What has especially attracted our atten-
ton in this case is an account of the men,
tai alimcnt on which this " boy murderer
has been for long time nourshcd. 1t is
said: "Pomsroy has been n close reader
of dime novels and yellow covered litcra-
ture. until, as one of the gentlemen stated
in his argument before the council, his
brain WAS turned, and his highest ambi-
ton was to be the .rexas Jack of South
Boston" 1t seems that his parents kept a
store for the sale of newspapers and peri
odicals, and trashy literature" Here
probably he found the stimulant which
| led him to commit the dreadful deeds for
| which he now stands sentenced to be
hanged. He had now found his hero in
these dime novels, and he wanted to be a
hero too.
We are strongly reminded of two cases
| which occurred Il few years ago one in
England and the other in this country.
An English noblcmln had been murdered
by his rIet de chtnljre. Ii came out on
trial, by the confession of the murderer.
that he had been Il great novel reader, and
had been especially fascinated by the hero
Of Jack Sheppard" one Of the popular
novels of the day; and his consumin.
ambition was to initiate that character
| in his heroic deeds His ambition was
satisfied in the murder of his master, and
the law had its revenge in the cxccu-
| ton.
The American Ease WAS still more thrill
| ling, the main facts of which will be read
| ily recalled. Daring the administ. alton
of president Tyler, 4 mutiny occurred on
board the American brig "Somcrs," :,
| war vessel then ut sea. under the command
of Commodore Mackenzie. Milshipman
Spencer. 4 son Of the Hon. John a. Spen-
Ger. secretary of war in Tylers cabinet
headed the mutiny. The intention was tc
pat the officers 10 death, and turn the
vessel into u pirate. The plan was dis
| covered just in time to prevent its exccu-
ton. Mr.. Spencer, being detected rs the
ringleader of the mutineers. was tried nn
der the provisions of maritime law. found
guilty, and was promptly executed by be.
ing hung at the yarIarm of the " Somers. -
| Commodore MackenZie's course was ap-
proved Of by the president. and applauled
by the whole country, although great sym
pathy was felt for the secretary Of war and
family.
The significant fact " hich points the
moral. without adorning this sad tale. re-
lates to young Spencer's college life. He
had enjoyed every advantage which
wealth and high social position could be-
stow. His grandfather, Ambrose Spencer
stood at the head OF the judiciary of the
state Of New York. and his father was a
cabinet minister. But novel reading had
been his ruin. The Pirates Own Book
had been his constant college companion
and after his execution it was believed
that he had sought and obtained a position
in the navy for the purpose of putting into
practice the lessons which that book had
taught him.
All these cases afford instruction by
Which persons should profit. They should
be very scrupulous rs to the kind of light
literature which finds its way into the
hands Of their children. We should a
soon give poison to cur children. Move
reading is perfect passion with multi
tudes. When it has attained such ascen
dency it units the devotee for any good
even if it does not stimnlae to the ope:
commission of crima.-Pres5y'erian an.
HerdH