New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1878-05-01
Jesse Pomeroy in Prison.

corning the prison career Of Jesse Pome-
roy than any other convict in the institu
ton. His atrocities are known the world
over, and hundreds make the vain visit to
the prison to get a sight at him. Indeed,
scarcely a visitor appears here but who
asks for the privilege, and, strange as it
may seem, the NEST importunate and per-
sistent of these are found among the lady
visitors. 1t is no uncommon thing for the
warden to be lmportuned for half an hour
at time by a delegation Of these phil
anthorpic females, and finding that their
pleadings are useless, they go off IN rage
probably declaring inwardly that Pome-
roy is a saint and angel in comparison
with Gen. Cham oerlain. This singular
phenomenon of a fend and murderer is
even more singular since his incarceration
for life in lonely cell than he was in the
palmy days OF his atrocities.
He has, in fact. become quite an ex-
emplary young man, and is evidently
bent on acquiring thoroughly classical
education. He is away by himself in a
cell in that part Of the prison known as
the !" Upper Arch, '.out Of sight of every
thing and everybody, and the only sounds
which greet his ears are the whistles of
the passing locomotives and rumbling of
the trains. Three times a day only is
the solitude broken by the appearance of
keeper with his meals. and not a word
passes, between them. 1t should be add
ed, in qualification, however, that the
chaplain visits him occasionally, and also
that his mother and brother are allowed
interviews with him every three months.
This is IN accordance with the general
rules of the prison, all Of which are ap-
plicable to Pomeroy, with the terrible
exception that his confinement is to be
solitary during his natural life.
During the regular working hours he is
employed in making shoe brushes, but
in this respect he is not the most profit
able convict in prison, He seems to have
taken to literature rather than to the
mechanic arts, and spends much of his
time in the acquisition of knowledge. So
far as the English branches go he is al
ready master, and has now attacked
Latin, French and German, and is making
astonishing progress in all three OF them.
If it were not for the conditions which
forbid his mingling with the rest Of the
prisoners it would not be a bad idea to
make him 6 Professor of Languages of
the institution. He writes. a letter to his
mother every week, and . receives one
from her regularly in return. The poor
woman brings over her communication
every Saturday, and invariably finds one
awaiting her.
! The letters which the young murderer
writes are marvels in the way of parental
correspondence, and some of his descrip-
tions of his lonely life are characterized
by sadness which is indeed narrowing.
He never makes any reference to his
crimes, and, when questioned by the
officers about the multitude OF murders
and outrages which he has committed, he
invariably answers that he knows moth
ing whatever about them. He has always
shown great affection for his mother,
and her devotion to him has shown her to
possess those natural instincts which are
the charm of pure womanhood. She
seems to be an exemplary woman IN ev.
cry respect, never complaining, but al
ways anxious, and has the coincidence
and sympathy Of every officer of the pris
on, as she should indeed of the whole
community.