The New York herald., 1879-09-08
Imprisoned for Life for a Crime
He Never Committed.
PATRICK BRADY'S FATE.
Correct Details of the Killing Of Keeper
Wright at Clinton Prison.
THE HOMICIDE'S CONFESSION

On p1stcau III Tue uortucru spur u tAio huAEoh-
daek range. overlooking fertile wales wstered by the
"Bloody Saranac" and frowning sternly upon the
distant bosom OF Lake Champlain. stands Clinton
Prison. Within its walls are four hundred and
ninety-three whom crime has placed in this wild
region beyond the pale Of social liberty. for term
Of years. OF these thirtyone what are known as
''lifers." They will never set eyes upon the busy
world again. they will never leave prison until
they summoned before the highest court OF
adjudication-the bar of Heaven-unless the Gov
ernor Of the State fit to pardon any whose
offences. in his Judgment. have been atoned for by
the weary years OF silence toll and Imprisonment
they have lived through. Nearly all these men were
convicted years ago of murder-either In the frst
or second degree; few are sentenced for arson.
and some of them never took any active part in tho
crimes for which they were sent to prison. They
were constructively guilty. and are paying the
penalty for bad compsnionship. ..,.s
RS A POINT.
In the long list of men who by their presence
gave consent under the law, to tho commission of
wrong. is Patrick Brady. an Irshman, most Of
whose life has been spent in Clinton Prison. He
was sent here twenty-one years ago. and except for
three dsys. whom he made desperate attempt to
force his way into the world by escape from incar-
ceration. has never looked upon liberty during all
that time. He came here boy; now he is to all in
tents and purposes old and broken down man.
Many efforts have been made to get him free by per-
sons who knew his better nature and skill in the
trade the State taught him but these have been
evsillng. SO he remains. The story Of his life is
sad one. and well calculated to set reflective to
wondering whether the law cannot be too severely
administered sometimes. Let US see.
In response to request to look into his case the
HERALD sent me here to get at the facts. have
deavOrod n of NV mis-.
sion When came to Plattsburg. in Clinton county.
about fifteen miles from the prison. made inquiries
among the residents concerning Brady and the crime
for which he Is suffering, and learned that during
An attempt to escape with some other prisoners in
1862 keeper named Augustus 7. Wright was killed
and all concerned in the affair were indicted and
held as his murderers. Brady. with two others.
was found guilty and sentenced to death; but
they were afterward saved from the gallows
by Governor Hoffman, who commuted the
death sentence to Of imprisonment for life.
great deal Of sympathy has always been felt for
Brady. who did not even the blow struck which
deprived the keeper Of existence. and several petit
tions, therefore. have been sent to Albany praying
that he be released. But they have mover been con-
sidered favorably II at all. and now. despairing al
most Of succor he makes one more effort. not SO
much for freedom set himself right before that
world OF which he has absolutely nothing. His
last letter from Dannemora dated August Is, 1879.
merely rehearses the points OF his story told to
with such pathos yesterday and which must let
him repeat it here. That letter is supported by
afidavit and epistle from the chaplain Of tho
prison. Both Of them are given as fonows:-
.l THE AFFIDAVIT.
that the
AHga.us Wright he 1s said philippe was as an oices st
commtted that all the
OF
man who struck the said Augustus 7. Wright
fhs following q. Keepers xnG tho
DR. M'nwANx's LrrrER
This Is the chaplain's letter.
cSTos Dsssss PEsSs SH1rI1s asr.s, or,,cT y ;7a
Patrick Brady ONE Of 1 few IN this prison
fully persuaded that his long confinement has much
ought to os
n $ no sa 10 S
fellow men On the contrary. sec in him the clements
y ~ 'A''''''''' '-' j. W. SciLwAINR. Chaplain.
GETTING AT THE TRUTH.
When I arrived here learned that Smith M Weed.
the best known lawyer in ths part OF the country.
defended Brady when he was tried by Judge James.
in 1862 for participation in the killing Of Wright.
Therefore sought him and hold the following nter-
view with him on the matter:--
"Mr. Weed, said l. ''you were Patrick Brady's
sSansel %nen ne was tTled with Sewe ana HAL for
aeof"
Eyes. yes: / was. was young man then and
member the whole thing perfectly WE'LL" NJ.
Ihe man Is still in prison. isn't heY'
WAS he guilty Of the crimoY'
mo and yes In law. you SEQ. he waa construct
lively guilty. that is to say, he was ono OF party
whom the keeper was killed. In my judgment at
this late date. as in those days. the men were not
to mean ha poe eu wn ssxS @nS
etruck the fatal blow, was q murderer
BY intent. he struck Wright on the head with
Tn daxv s..tA~
with tho project And went Tar say after
he hit him. Throw some water over him. boys.
he has fatnted.' But they were desperate men
convicts-and the jury found them guilty. AS for
Brady. he was guilty technically only. Strange
creature that Brady" continued Mr.: Weed in re-
Elective sort OF way. "Stranae creature. He
but mere boy ut tho time of his trial. and quite
bitter at the thought that he being tried for
written TO exoncrate himself bui the Court would
not permit him to do so.
"Do you think he ought to be pardoncdY'
'"Of course do. He has suffered enough for be-
ing present when Wright was killed. Moreover,
think his mind is becoming impaired by brooding
over the thing and would bo proper to remove him
from Clinton"
'well. don't know any moro about him than
came out in the attempt to defend him. except that
he In man of lofty descent. II what he told me il
true. have no reason to doubt 1t. Do you know
who his father WASP mean. havo you ever hoardY'
mo. sir. Who was heY'
"An Irish nobleman. But you are going to see
him you must get him to tell you all about that him
self cannot say any moro on the subject Strange
fellow Strange fellowi"
zone word more. Havo you tried TO obtain his
pardonY
mo; that has been done outside Of me-
'"You think he ought to be pardonedY
81 do. because II bo knew more about the
killing than he did; that In. had no been cognizant
OF the mans having been killed. he has amply atoned
for that knowledge. would add again. that his
mind is not in a condition to justify further hard
ship."
AT THE PRISON.
After parting with Smith NJ. Weed went to the
prison IN Dannemora. and met Mr.. Isaiah Fuller.
the new warden. told him the object OF my visit.
and asked to see Mr. McIlwaine, the chaplain. Mr..
FULLER very courteously sent for the reverend gem
tieman, VINO came over with DIR. Lansing. the house
physcian ana MT. James Moon. the principal
the clergyman, and he was delighted that had come.
He said lie had been long time In the prison. and
was satisfied from what he know of Brady's charac-
TOR and his that he xaa snbioct Cor Ixn.,,-