The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1879-05-28
AN ENGLISH SENSATION.

AN ENGLISH SENSATION.
The Very Hard Case Of Thomas Moran.
Boston Herald. 1896.
It is not often that pauper-convict has
the honor of drawing the notice of the
British house of commons all to himself,
and on two occasions. Yet assuredly the
case of Thomas Moran merited the excep-
tional attention which it received. We do
not remember to have come upon a more
cruel and pitiable instance of the oppres-
sion of poverty by the law. On the 23d
ult. Thomas Moran, a laborer, with luna
tic wife and six young children, was sum-
moned before the magistrates of the police
court in Chester, the county town of Ches-
hire, and the center of English squlrachy.
The prosecuting officer of the Chester union
charged this hapless workman with having
willfully neglected to contribute toward the
support of four of his children, who were
living in the workhouss at the expense OF
the ratepayers. All six of the children were
taken into the institution on Sept.
II. Two came out after short
stay, and since then have been
maintained in whole or In
part, Dy Inc IaLnor. 1No OGuoIS IoLuaAuou ~
the poor-house, and Moran engaged to pay
the authorities $3.50 per week toward their
sustenance. But up to the date of the sum-
mons though often asked and always prom
Using, he had only handed in $3.50 all told.
The prosecutor hailed him before the magis-
trates for punishment under the provisions
of the vagrancy act Hhe official story ran
straight enough, as beseemed page from
the short and simple annals of the poor
house.
The defendants plea, however, put very
different face upon the delinquency. Moran
proved his inability to pay by the records of
the court that was trying him. He showed
that on Sept. 10, just one week after the ad-
mission of his children to the Union, the po-
lice found him lying in the market square OF
Chester bleeding from ruptured blood YES
sci, and carried him to the hospital on a
stretcher. After his discharge from the in
Urinary he was for some time 80 weak that
he could not obtain employment. Then q
hard frost set in, and threw him out of all
chance of work for three months. Thus of the
eight months since September, he had pass
ed nearly six in compulsory idleness. Ma
turally he had fallen in debt for his own sub;
sistence and the partial support of the two
children who were living with him. HI
owed 800 for food and clothing. He coulc
earn no more than $5 per week, even whe1
employed every day, and, on the average
his earnings did not exceed $4 OR $3.50 pc
week. The police describe him as stead.
man, always ready to turn his hand to an!
work that presented itself. Moran close<
8. his pathetic defense by an impressive de
claration: II asked the guardians for
few weeks, that I might get cottage and
-; 4otyo ohI Hro,
home. But they said I must come into tn
coming on when could get work, did no
want to do that. I'll pay regularly in tn
future any sum which the magistrates think
I can afford.'' The reader will probable
conclude that the worthy magistrates wipet
their eyes and drew out their portemonnaies
Well, not exactly. They put their head
together, and, after that momentar
formation of a pavement, the Mayo
of Chester announced their decision
and sentenced Thomas Moron t.
imprisonment for one month, wit
hard labor. The wretched laborer burs
into tears, and cried out: ':For Gods sake
gentlemen, give me chance. I was neve
in prison in my life. If you send me there
I shall lose my work. Give me- time, an
I'll pay it all!'' The second appeal like tn
first, fell upon deaf ears, and he was remove
below, still pleading for mercy.
But the reporters of the press were neithe
deaf nor unmoved. The Chester Chr0n5c
published full account of the trial. I'll
correspondents of the London journals il
formed the metropolitan press of the disgr'
ceful decision of the Cheshire magistrate
Public opinion took fire at flash. !
Chester subscription list was opened III
der the auspices of the reverend precenter (
the cathedral, and considerable sum WI
pledged for the relief of the imprisoned maj
In London the magisterial outrage We
brought up in parliament by DIR. Keneal
on the 25th ult., the member for Stoke, an
Col. Beresford, the member for Southwar
and on the 18th ult. Mr.. Cross, the secreta1
of state for the home department., although
refused to admit that the decision of Il
police court was indefensible, stated that
chad thought it right that the man shou
not undergo the full sentence of inprlso
ment passed upon him. Thus, through Il
agony of the press, Thomas Moran, ere tn
has received both release and relief. AS f
the magistrates, we are glad to say that
the last advices they were feeling very u
comfortable over the expressions of ind
nation which poured in upon them from
quarters. ~ N