Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1875-08-17
The l'on,eroy Boy.

We have read with considerable inter
est the autobiography OF Jesse II. Pome-
roy, written by himself since his conVic'
ton and imprisonment. Though boYish
production, It shows mind clear. active
and strong; and, if not an expert we
should say il was entirely free from insane
tendencies.
The charges which have been raised
against Pomeroy and the crime OF when
he was convicted, are familiar TO every
reader, but tee motives which led to snch
afro ciors acts are deep below the sound
ing Of human intellect.
On being arrested Tor the murder oil the
Miilcn boy, Pomeroy claims that he per
sistenuy dcuicd the charge, though an
officer stated that on seeing the dead
body Of his yic.irl, he tremb.ed and con-
fessod that he committed the deed. But
when the body OF Katie Curran was found
in his mothers cellar, and when she and
another son were arrested as being com
plicaled in the affair. he claims that he
confessed both crimes, in order to secure
the release OF his mother and brother.
The evidence, on trial. showed that
Pomeroy. when child had extraordinary
tendencies to cruelty and improper con
duct. lie frequently took smal! boys to
out oil the-way places, and there pune
tured them with pins, cut them with
knives, and inflicted torture upon them IN
other ingenious ways. These acts re-
suited in his being sent to the Massachu-
sets reform school for time, where he
claims that by meritorious conduct, he
won the highest positions to be obtained.
On being liberated,hc took news route
and no complaint was heard against him
until the death of Millen.
This. in brief, is the young mans his
tory. At the early age OF three or five
the disposition began to manifest itself by
bis torLwing kitten with knife and
laughing to see the blood run. The ter
rib.o thirst has followed him until it has
made him condemned criminal. There
I is not the slish,cs. doubt that The boy IS
guilty, and that he Vas -anc.-iu The
commonly accepted sense OF The word,
whoa he killed these two children. But
was he responsible for the acts, au'
should he, a child, he hanged like full
ncdsed villain Tor them? These are
questions which Massachusetts, jury and
/ Governors Council have answered IN
the affirmative.
We hardly .hiaa, however, if tho boy
Is executed, that public opinion will sus-
tain the action. The atrocity of these
crimes and the apparent lack OF feeling
on the part OF PJmeroy have debarred
him from that pubic sympathy which i
accorded TO most criminals Much ha;
been learned regarding natural tendencies
born in individuals. Drunkenness aud
/ thieyish inclinations are nov generally
acknowledged to be transmitted 10 chill
dren from parents, either in weaker or
more intense form according to parental
tendencies. Blu. here /, ease which
more clearly proved tha. crime is an
hereditary disease. \, three years OF age
It manifested Itself Can q child be held
Tor deeds done at TIA, age? Can be, il
not trained to oyefcpn, his natural de
sires when young, De accountable lor the
result OF satisfying such desires Il does
not seem that he should be.
Society mus, be protected. To in imi
date hardened criminals, it is deemed
best to execute and impri-on; bur when
a child jeyelope tendencies to crime. it
is the duty OF tie Safe % provide lula.
ences and instruction which shall correct
them aud make q COOL citizen OF the poor
child who wii. o.Asrw,,s b. , curse TO
himse, and to society. Inc reform school
/ if properly conducted Is an Institution
which viii produce such change; and
it wou,l ac wiser course tYr Ma>-lchI
sets 30 par,us, "ero she to a1mm'. Pom
roy to the care Of some institution or in
diydual who would tram him Tor life anu
death than ;oimnedi .te'y deprive hm OF
/ his miserable existence.
/ Butthe State must . further back than
Ills. /: must regulate mrrilg1s and
thus prevent the birth OF diseased chill
dren. The marry Ia OF iIiot,, murlecets,
the blind and i,cased, can only result in
wretcheduess and sin. lIy.e j, a subject
needing the careful consideration OF leg
/ isla,ors. and one which viii be OF more
benefit 10 society. it properly adjusted
than all the private schemes which are
engineered through every legislative
session.
Base DuH.
/ There vas n game nf b4Sa L,ll plavad