Stevens County tribune. (Morris, Minn.) 1877-1880, 1879-05-29
7 EtaLrsH SENSATION.
Very Hard Case Of Thomas Moran.
Boston Herald.


Boston Herald.
II y not bften that pauper-conyict 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 Femember to have come upon more
cruel and pitiable instance of the oppres-
sion of poverty by the law. On the 23d
ult. Thomas Moran, q laborer, with q 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 squirachy,
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 workhouse at the expense of
the ratepayers. All six of the children were
taken into the institution on Sept.
IL. Two came out after short
stay, and since then have been
maintained in whole or in
part, by the father. The others remained at
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
ising, 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. Yhe 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. IS, 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
frmary he was for some time so 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 SUBJ
sistence and the partial support of the two
children who were living with him. He
owed $26 for food and clothing. He could
earn no more than SIS per week, even when
employed every day, and, on the average,
his earnings did not exceed 81 or $4. so per
week. The police describe him as a steady
man, always ready to turn his hand to any
work that presented itself. Moran closed
his pathetic defense by an impressive de-
claration: 81 asked the guardians for a
few weeks, that I might get cottage and a
few sti ks together and take my children
home. But they said mnst come into the
workhouse myself. As the time was just
coming on when could get work, did not
want to do that. I'll pay regularly in the
future any sum which the magistrates think
can afford.' The reader will probable
conclude that the worthy magistrates wiped
their eyes and drew out their portemonnaies.
Well, not exactly. They put their heads
together, and, after that momentary
formation of a pavement, the Mayor
of Chester announced their decision
and sentenced Thomas Moron to
imprisonment for one month, with
hard labor. The wretched laborer burst
into tears, and cried out: sFor Gods sake
gentlemen, give me chance. l was never
in prison in my life. Ii you send me there,
I shall lose my work. Give me time, and
I'll pay it all!' The second appeal, like the
first, fell upon dear ears, and be was removed
below, still pleading for mercy.
But the reporters of the press were neither
deaf nor unmoved. The Chester Chronicle
published full account of the trial. The
correspondents of the London journals in
formed the metropolitan press of the disgra-
ceful decision of the Cheshire magistrates.
Public opinion took fire at flash. In
Chester subscription list was opened I'M
der the auspices of the reverend presenter of
the cathedral, and considerable sum was
pledged for the relief of the imprisoned man.
In London the magisterial outrage was
brought up in parliament by DIR. Kenealy,
on the 25th ult., the member for Stoke, and
Col. Beresford, the member for Southwark;
and on the 28th nit. Mr.. Cross, the secretary
of state for the home department, although he
refused to admit that tho decision of the
police court was irdefensible, stated that he
''had thought it right that the man should
not undergo the full sentence of inpr1son-
ment passed upon him." Thus, through the
agony of the press, Thomas Moran, ere this,
has received both release and relief. AS for
the magistrates, we are glad to say that at
the last advices they were feeling very un-
comfortable over the expressions of indig-
nation which poured in upon them from all
quarters.