The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1878-05-17

A Crime Against Humanity.

We hope our subscribers in New York
and Brooklyn Will lose no time in APP
pealiug TO the governor TO remit the iu-
human punishment just inflicted upon
a starving mother. The facts as reported
need no extended comment. They make
remon-trance the duty of every true
hearted woman.
The case of Mrs Margaret Sullivan,
the poor forsaken wife and mother who
was recently sentenced to the State
prison by Recorder Haekett, Of New
York, for three years, for abandoning
her three weeks-old babe on door
stoop, excites the profoundest sympathy
OF thousands Of mothers everywhere.
The unfortunate woman, on the night
Of her arrest, after having wandered
through the lower wards with her child
in her arms, aud being refused food and
shelter 10y all whom she asked, in sheer
desperation, placed her babe on a stOOp.
An officer, who had been watching her
movements, took her into custody after
she had moved away hut a few steps
He asked her what the bundle which
she left on the step contained, and she
replied, with fears streaming down her
wan and sunken cheeks: at is my
poor baby. loved it, but as I am
starving aud have no place 10 lay my
head, what can / dO?' The officer, ac-
customed as he was to dealing with the
rough characters Of that precinct, was
I touched by her fOrlorn appearance, and,
I taking the waif in his arms, escorted
the woman 10 "A neighbOring restaurant
aud supplied her with the first meal she
had partsken Of in twenty-four hours.
I Aiterward she was taken 10 the sta
+ ton house, where both mother and iu-
/ FAINT were placed by the fire aud were
warmed, as the night was stormy and
cold aud her garments were soaking
wet. In reply To the inquiries Of the
sergeant, she said that her husband had
deserted her, aud that she had been
wandering about the city for several
days in search Of employment, but had
not met with success. She thought that
II she had 10 die, il would not be right
for her To kill her baby also, and she
had left 10 on the stoop where il would
be found and cared for. When she
turned her back upon IL, 10 was for the
purpose of ending her misery by drown
ing. When arraigued before the police
Justice Of the Tombs on the following
iday, she was com mitted for trial While
in the Tombs her baby was given To her
aud improved wonderfully, as did tie
mother, who, for the first time in many
weary weeks, had a comfortable plac,
in which 10 rest. When, after being
sentenced, she was informed that hel
baby would he taken from her, she grew
frantic and refused TO be comforted unit
informed that the child would be sent
10 her IN a few days.
Mrs. sullivan Is about thirty years o
b age, is very intelligent, and, before mis-
. fortune overlook her, must have beer
J. harsAanuaa Tho lao D.
, tence imposed 10y the recorder even sur
prised the police. who say that he ma
. gone entirely too far A lady, wei
known for her noble work in amel orat
. ing the condition Of fallen women, said
Recorder Hackett may have beel
prompted by sense Of duty in cOnsigu
s ing this unfortunate creature for thre
% years among the depraved and hardened
inmates Of the State prison, but 7 an
, others think 10 Is the greatest oLtrag
that was ever perpetrated in the erin
. iual annals of this city. There is no
a mother-it makes no difference wha
, her station in life may be-whO ha
read of this case but whose heart yearn
ia sympathy for this poor stricken crea
] ture. IL Justice were meted out prop
erly, this recorder would now be serv
. tng out the time that Mrs. Sullivan
serving. It is "A disgrace TO humanit
that in a city of such great wealth, an
y where there is so much real Christia
a charity, woman should be compelle
To wander from door to door in scare
Of enough food to keep body and sOJ
together. 1t makes no difference, eve
if the woman should turn out TO be
Y Magdalen. The case should be pr,
secuted To the notice of the gOverno
and justice be accorded to her" Otheri
in speaking of the case, stigmatized Oh
act Of the recorder as outrageous an
uncalled for. Subscriptions will, il
n understood, be asked for in aid OF I'll
movement, aud a petition will be sci
10 Albany petitioning for .eXecutiS
clemeucy.- lVOmdls Journal