The free citizen. (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1874-1876, 1875-07-24


Atrocities -Nvhnt Came OF Reau,ng
Dime Novels,
i'oston Correspondence Of The n. Y. Herald.
Tho council yesterday, by vote of
five to four, authorized the governor of
Massachusetts to issue his warrant for
the execution of the boy murderer
Jesse Pomeroy.
The facts of the two murders COM
mltted by this boy arc only too we'll
known. For months m immense press-
ure has been brought to bear on the
governor and members of the council,
by parties i'll favor of meeting out to
Pomeroy the full extent of the law
l. g. hanging instead of communication
of sentence to imprisonment for life.
Delegation after delegation of ladies
(mothers in nearly all cases) have waited
upon members of the council at
their homes, Offices, on tho street,
at the hotels while dining, and even
in stores when making necessary
purchases have they been besieged
by ladies rs soon as recognized as mem
bers Of the governors council, to cast
their votes in favor Of hanging when
ever his case should come before the
council for final disposition. Hearings
to the public have been given Mt the
state house before the governor and
council on the question of communication
of sentence, and most able arguments
have been made, on both sides, and yes
ter ny the decision was made. In view
of this, l am committing no breach of
confidence when write you of certain
facts connected with this case. Jesse
Pomeroy, is moral monstrosity. He
murdered two small children for no
cause whatever. He did not rob them
of even IL pin he had no quarrel
with them, whereby his passions might
have beon excited; he suffered no re-
vengcful feelings towards the parents of
the victims. Tho children and their
families were perfect strangers to him.
No cnusc for these murders arc known.
CONFESSION.
He was visited ut the Jail where he
has been confined sinco Iris conviction
by members Of tho council, who con-
vcrsed with him on the subject of his
crimes. They found him to be nn nm
usually bright and intelligent lad his
answers were given with promptncss
and decision there was no waYcring or
hesitation in them, but right to the
point. When asked how many murders
he had committed his quick reply was,
"rwo, sir !" lie was asked why he
killed the little boy, and replied that
she did not know" He snid that che
was standing with others looking at the
working Of fire engine, when he
noticed pretty looking little boy
standing near. He suddenly asked the
little fellow if he wouldn't take walk
with him. and upon conscnting, he was
led across marshes - distance of mt least
a mile, when suddenly he felt a iiutter-
ing in his head and mechanically he
took his pocket knife from his pocket,
rapidly opened it, and stabbed, stabbed,
stabbed it into his little victim, having
nu consciousness Of what be was doing
at the time, and never that day fully
realizing what ho had done. That in
NIL the time he was walking with the
boy he did not have it in his mind to
iniure him, his only notion in having
him with him was for companionship,
with this uncomfortable impulse that
within minute Tho boy was pretty
child and that was what attracted him
toward him."
THE MURDER OF THE LITTLE GIRL.
When asked about tho circnmsfnnces
of his killing tho little girl in South
Boston, he said that that morning his
mother and brother were away or en-
gagcd, and he was obliged to attend to
the periodical store. Ho sat reading
awhile when pretty little girl, whom
he had never seen before came in and
asked for some papers. AS soon as she
spoke this terrible feeling all through
him, with tho huttering in his head,
came over him, and he replied, "they're
down cellar" Unsuspcctingly she open
ed the door and passed down the stairs,
Pomeloy Immediately following, draw
ing his knife as he went. AS soon ns
the bottom was reached he placed his
left hand over her mouth, drew her head
back toward his shoulder, and with the
knife in his light hand cut her throat
and she was dead III minute. Not
three minutes had expired from tLe
time he first laid eyes on the little girl
before she was dead.
A DIME NOVEL READER.
Pomeroy has hccn close. reader of
dime noveis and: yellow covered ltera-
turo until, as one of the gentleman
stated in his argument before the coun-
Gil, f" his brain WAS turned, and his
highest ambition WAS to be the 'TeXas !
jack of South Boston," :. |
A REMARKABLE SToRY.-A physician
of this city received from brother
physician, in n neighboring city, few
days since, Il human heart, which has
attached to it most remarkable story.
The man from whose body the heart
was taken attempted to commit snicide
by stabbng himself with a knife. The
weapon penetrated the heart and cut a
cash entirely through it. Notwith-
standing this the man lived for thirty
days afterwards, and would probably
have survive d for many years had he
not risen from his bed and got on n
drunk. While in an intoxicated con.