Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1875-07-08
BOSTON'S BOY FIEND.

The Massachusetts Council say ne
Must SwiBg-ParticuIars OF HIS HOr-
ribIe AtrOcItIes-What Came OF Read
ing Dime Novels.
Boston Correspondence Of the New York Herald
The 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.
TIE facts of the two murders COM
mitted by this boy are only too well
known. For mon his an immense
pressure has been brought to bear on
the Governor and members Of the
Council, by parties n favor of melting
out to Pomeroy the full extent Of
the law. e. hanging instead Of COM
mutation 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, OF the
street, at the hotels while dining, and
even in stores when making necessary
purchases have they been besieged by
ladies as soon as recognized as mem
bers of the Governors Council,
to cast their vote in favor Of hang
ING whenever his case should
come before the Council for final dis.
position. Hearings to the public have
been given at the State House before
the Governor and Council on the ques.
ton of Communication of sentence, and
most able arguments have been made,
on both sides. and yesterday the de-
cision was made. In view Of this, am
committing no breach of confidence
when l write you of certain facts con-
nected with this case. Jesse POmerOy
is a moral monstrosity. He murdered
two small children for no cause what
ever. He did not rob them of even a
pin; he had no quarrel with them,
whereby his passions might have been
excited; he suffered no revengeful feel
ings towards the parents of the vic
tins. The children and theE families
were perfect strangers to him. No
cause for thes murders are known.
CONFESSION.
He was visited at the jail where he
has been confined since his conviction
by members Of the Council, who con-
versed with him on the subject Of his
crimes. They found him to be an IN
usually bright and intelligent lad; his
answers were given with promptness
and decision; there was no wavCnng or
hesitation IN them, but right to the
point. When asked how many muir
ders he had committed his quick reply
was, 1.-TWO, sir" He was asked why
he killed the little boy, and replied
that "he did not know" He said
that che was standing with
others looking at the working Of
a fire engine. when he noticed a
pretty looking little boy standing near.
He suddenly asked the little fellow if
he wouldn't take a walk with him, and
upon consenting, he was led across
marshes distance Of at least mile,
when suddenly he felt a hutterng IN
his head and mechanically he took his
pocket-knife from his pocket, rapidly
opened it, and stabbed, stabbed, stab
bed it into his little victim, having 10
consciousness of what he was doing at
the time, and never that day + y
realizing what he had done. That il
all the time he was walking with the
boy he did not b we 1t IN his mind -
iuiure him, his only notion IN having
him with him was for companionship,
and it was only when suddenly seized
with this uncomfortable impulse that
he did the deed, and 1t all occurred
within a minute. The boy was pretty
child and that was what attracted him
toward him"
THE MURDER OF THE LITTLE GIRL.
When asked about he circumstances
of his killing the little girl IN South
Boston. he said that chat morning his
mother and brother were away or en-
gagged, and he was obliged to attend 20
the periodical store. He sat reading
awhile when a pretty little girl, whom
ne had never seen before, came III and
asked for some papers. As soon as she
spoke this terrible feeling all through
him, with the huttering IN his head,
came over him, and he replied, they're
down cellar" UnsuspectTngly she
opened the door and passed down the
stairs, Polneroy Immediately following,
drawing his knife as he went. AssOOn as
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 right hand cut
her throat and she WAS dead IN a
minute. Not three minutes had ex-
pired from the time he first laid eyes
on the little girl before she was dead.
A DIME NOVEL READER.
Pomeroy has been close reader of
dime novels and yellow covered itera-
| ture until, as one Of the gentleman
stated in his argument before the
Council, "his brain was turned, and
his highest ambition was to be the
Texas Jack Of South Boston"