The Toledo chronicle. [volume] (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1873-1924, 1878-03-28
ov,eo Ev-..~--y a. D-s-A.

Probably there is more curiosity
concerning the prison career of Jesse
Pomeroy than any other convict in the
institution. His atrocities are known
the world over, and hundreds make the
vain visit to the Prison to get sight at
him. Indeed. scarcely visitor APP
pears here but who asks for the privi-
lege, and, strange as it may seem, the
most importunate and persistent of
these are found among the lady visit
ors. 1t is no uncommon thing for the
Warden to be importuned for half an
hour at time by delegation of these
philanthropic females, and, finding that
their pleadings are useless, they 90 off
in rage, probably declaring inwardly
that Pomeroy is saint and angel in
comparison with Gen. Chamberlain.
This singular phenomenon of fiend
and murderer is even more singular
since his Incarceration for life in a
lonely cell than he was in the palmy
days of his atrocities. He has, in fact,
become quite an exemplary young man,
and is evidently determined upon ac-
quiring thoroughly classical educa-
ton. He is away by himself in 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 a keeper with his meals,
and then not word passes between
them. 1t should be added, in aualifica-
ton, however, that the Chaplain visits
him occasionally, and also that
his mother and brother are al
lowed interviews with him every
three months. This is in accord
ance with the general rules of
the prison, all of which are applicable
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 re-
spect he is not the most profitable con-
vict in the 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
already master, and has now attacked
Latin, French and German, and is max
ing astonishing progress in all three of
them. If it were not for the conditions
which forbid his mingling with tie
rest OF the prisoners it would not be
bad idea to make him Professor of
Languages of the institution. Ee
writes q letter to his mother every week.
and receives one from her regularly in |
return. The poor woman brings over
her communication ever Saturday, and |
invariably finds one awaiting her. The
letters which the young murderer
writes are marvels in the way of paren-
tai correspondence. and some of his de- |
scriptions of his lonely life are charac-
terized by . sadness which is indeed |
narrowing. He never makes any ref |
erence to his crimes, and, when cues
toned by the officers about the multi
tude OF murders and outrages which he |
has committed. he invariably answers |
that he knows nothing whatever about |
them. He has always shown q great |
affection for his mother, and her devo-
ton to him has shown her to possess
those natural instincts which are the
charm of pure womaDhood. She seems |
to be an exemplary woman in every re-
spect, never complaining, but always
anxious, and has the coincidence and |
of every officer of the prison.
as she should indeed of the whole COM
munity. Boston Globe.