River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1879-05-29
AN ENGLISH SENSATION.
The Tery Hard Case of Thomas Moran.
Boston Herald

Afeo 'e'B A"Fu case OF 1Ao3staS moran.
Boston Herald.l
1t is not often that a 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 more
cruel and pitiable instance of the oppres-
sion of poverty by the law. On the 23d
ult. Thomas Moran, a IaboTer, 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 squirachy
The prosecuting officer of the Chester union
charged this hapless workman with having
wlllfnlly 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.
II. 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
lsiDg, be had only handed i'll $3.50 all told.
The prosecutor hailed him before the magis-
trates for punishment under the provisions
of the vagrancy act Fhe official story ran
straight enough, as beseemed a page from
the short and simple annals of the poor
house.
The defendants plea, however, put a 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 so weak that
he could not obtain employment. Then a
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 4ileness. Ma
| tlrally he had fallen in debt for his own SUBJ
slstence and the partial support of the two
children who were living with him. He
owed $50 for food and clothing. He could
earn no more than So per week, even when
employed every day, and, on the average,
| his earnings did not exceed "a or $3.50 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 q
few weeks, that l might get cottage and a
few sticks together and take my children
home. But they said / must 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 pavement, the Mayor
of Chester announced their decision
and sentenced Thomas Moron to
imprisonment for one month, with
hard labor. The wretched laborar burst
into tears, and cried out; For Gods sake
gentlemen, give me chance. l was never
in prison in my life. If you send me there,
/ shall lose my work. Give me time, and
I'll pay it all! The second appeal, like the
first, fell upon deaf ears, and he was removed
below, still pleading for mercy.
But the reporters of the press were neither
deaf nor unmoved. The Chester Chr0piclt
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 IN
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 ult. Mr.. Cross, the secretary
of state for the home department, although he
refused to admit that the decision of the
police court was indefensible stated that he
chad thought it right that the man should
not undergo the full sentence of inprlson.
ment passed upon him." Thus, through the
agony of the press, Thomas Moran, ere this
has received both release and relief. As fol
the magistrates, we are glad to say that al
the last advlces they were feeling very IN
comfortable over the expressions of indig
nation which poured in upon them from all
quarters.