The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-06-16
MERCY TEMPERING JUSTICE.


crsroDY-rHE PRIsoNEE's NARRATIVE
The Third District Conrs Myrtle aveaus. Brooklyn,
was the scene OF novel and interesting examination
yesterday, In which respectable looking man. driven
10 crime by poverty. was arraigued on the charge
OF highway robbery. The prisoner was Theodore
Hollis, a former grocery merchant. and the
luctans complainant was Miss Lulu Prange, Of
No 1883 Fulton street. Miss Prange, avery pretty
blonde about eighteen years OF age, was handsomely
and fashionabIy dressed She wore neatly fitting
walking dress and jaunty hat and white plane. She
present IN answer TO subpoena, and under pro-
test, she did wish 10 appear against Hollis,
though he had taken her pocketbook and money
from nor while Clinton avenue the day previous.
sne had heard the story Of his poverty, had inyss
gated IT, and, finding It to be true, she
not only humaney forgave him. but assisted his villa
ana determined not 10 prosecute him. Assistant
District AT torney Wsrnbers appeared for She prose-
cu,ion wnen the called BY Judge Riley yes
terday fsffn5 EnyaT4. Is vna
BRAVE, BUT GENTLE.
Miss Prange took the witness stand and testified to
the circumstances attending the robpery and the
chase she said Ill saw the prisonor yesterday about
ton O'Clock IN the morning; when he hrst attracted
my attention he had his hands to his head
as II he in trouble; thought ne might
be sick end ! passed on; no Game up
behind me and he took my pocketbook; he did 1t SO
gently that thought Il was frlsnd, and gave It up
TO MIN; told him TO bring back the pocketbook; he
hesitated at rst and then turned ran; there
about 81 in tho pockctbook; ran after the man
down Dekalb avenue to Washington avenue, to La
fayettc avenue, aud th0n down Wavcrley avenue 10
Wilioughby avenue; saw wagon passing and
jumped 10, no& telling the man who was
driving what the matter was until
was in; told him 10 drive after
"a h h,d tha whAnT rang
him. gave me back my money and pocketboek then
he told about tho poverty OF his family and HIM
SELL and went with him and iound out that what
sand was SO; his vile and oaby were SICK; ! gave
Thorn part OF tho money; then Inc officers catno IN
and TOOK him away in spllc OF me.
justice Reilly asked the witness, "Did you want the
o ss 20 aKs sn s want 70 81
and wouldn't be hereif wasn't forced 10 be. When
went into his mousse no took hts children on his
kssc and cried. want every thing done Tor him that
can be done 10 free him
Hollis men tes,ided that no had been working at
Harbeck's stores unti last week. whom he hurt his
back, twenty cents an hour; ne didut know what
it was that made him take tho pockctbook; he didn't
hear her call 10 him TO give II back he wanted 10
turn IL all tho time he felt crazed like didn't re-
member anything Till ne started to run; he said lie
knew il was serious offence and he sorry It.
Win the consent Of inc District Attorney AM tho
County Jadge Justice Riley accepted plea Of petty
larceny on the part Of Inc prisoner whom ne adMou-
ished as future good behavior and Of his narrow
escape from i've years. imprisonment which sentence
the CRIME Of highway robbery would warrant. Tho
with tears in hts eyes, thanked tho Judge. Mss
Prangc also thanked The Judge Tor his eniency AMI
the parties withdrew. The wife ana Two little Gull.
oren OF Hollis who were present, won the sympathy
OF the spectators Tor the prisoner.
HOLLIS STORY.
Last evening reporter OF the HERALD called upon
Theodore Hollis Tor the purpose Of obtaining from
his own lips correct version OF The story which has
suddenly brought aim from obscurity into unpeas-
ant notoricty. the writer found Hollis seated in the
front room on the second moor q neat l,!1le two
nue, one door from the corner OF Clinton
avenue The neighbornood Is cleanly and
sdam sssh na SUR
mounted by closely cut gray hair His eyes are dark
blue kindly and honest In expression His features
are regular. He was seated by q WINDOW. wilb
little boy between three and four years ola on his
knee when the reporter entered Alter lew general
a ssa.smoa., IA substance as ioi.oxs~I am
thirty -nlns years OF age and was porn In
p i si : most exaggerated accounts Of me,
and are foil OF errors. Ny relatives arc
very respectable people ny father 10 the town Sheriff
was published in the papers was Afforded excellent
opportunities Tor educauon when 10Y ana went 10
four or i've private schools. did not learn any
trade or profession but WAS Tor many ycars
q salesman IN the grocery business was also 10
y saloon and tended bar Tor about twelve yoars. l
have never drank liquor or beer, smoked or chewed
tobacco IN ali my iifr was IN business Tor myself
us grocer tor several years In New Haven but when
times became hard five years ago could not COL
lect my dcDIs and the merchants from whom pur-
chased levied on my stock. 80 that iarisd came
to Brooklyn two years ago ana since then have
suffered cons dcrabjy. have endeavorcd 70 obtain
work suitable for me, but without success got -
JOB time along the docks as
Iaoorer at Har0cck's store, but did not work
there during the past week. Yesterday was
minded th my rent Que and that my credit was
about at the grocery store, where owed 81.
The cniireu cry ing 20 10 Prospect PARK aud
money to take them out 10 get The air. winch
my wife aud they both needed became almost DIS
traced Ia trying TO think how TO extricate myself
from the difficulties by which ! was surrounded l
left The housebut don't want TINS pubiished,n said
Hollis in undcrtone TO the writer-"wth the idea
Of going down and jumping INTO tho river.
s.while In that frame mad . young lady
with n rocke book IN her hand, and seized II and
ran away / did not exactly know at the moment
struck her, stabbed nsr or what Wnie was run
ming away began 20 reaiize me act OF which had
been gaily, aud l was about turning to run back
again To give the lady ncr property wncn
man caught ha:d OF me. gave The lady the
we're ex.Aiaerman Dunnsm. nave sines
heard panel me, together with the lady, to my
house. While lurning The corner IRON Clinton avenue
saw policeman, ana asked MIN 10 come with
fcei sufficiently grateful, am AFRAID Tor
been treated ny thc lady aud all The officials With
whom have come In contact TINS Will be a terri.
BILE blow to my poor ia,her, = realistically remarked
Hollis, and his voice iaitercd. "He 10 a man oil ne
strict integrity and 10 hgniy respected. Last
night my brother photographed me, and ne came
this morning. He paid my rent aud gave me 0thci
temporary assistance"
you have been twice married, Mr.. hollis. have
you not ~ queried the writer.
ayes, 81; / have,n said he. my arsr wiie was
divorced. obtained a divorce from her. have q
daughter, fifteen years OF age. living III New Haven.
was married TO my present wife IN 1873. There 10
our marriage Certificate" said ne, pointing TO the
paper winch hung 10 frame. 81 nave Two children
by my second vile.
AT this juncture Of tue conversation Mrs Hollis
tered The room, carrying IN her arms child aoout
year old She Is slight delicate looking little
woman, about twenty-five years OF age ana OF prepos-
scssing appearance In speaking oil his future pros
poets HONS snd he did not know what be would do;
might be that he would have TO 20 to work again
tho dock. Mrs. Hollis chimsd IN in the conversation
here say :--"indeed SIR, he cannot 20 back 10
the docks any more Ho not Ill Tor
work; Is able You
now keeping up under extreme excitement which
TINS affair caused MN, but he cannot work the
docks. II lie could get situaIion salesman Ia
whole ale grocery. that Is business which he
br)ugnt up and understands, We would be happy
Holis said no had been trying but IN vain, 10 get
The cars or TO fond bar. he willing and xious
10 labor hard 10 support his little family
A SUCCESSFUL TRIAL TRIP.