The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1883-04-12
JOHN HOGAN of Cooperstown. who was

JOHN HOGAN of Cooperstown, who was
sentenced to State prison for life, num-
Der of years ago, for the murder of his
brother, was pardoned by the governor
last week and reached home on Saturday
last. The murder was the result of a
serious quarrel between the brothers on
account of the ownership of some land,
and was committed under circumstances
which gave it the appearance of premed
itation. On the first trial Hogan was
found guilty of murder in the first degree,
out the supreme court ordered a new
trial. On the second trial the opposing
lawyers worked with degree of earnest
ness seldom manifested in criminal
trial and the verdict was more favorable
to the accused than was the former.
Hogan's previous life was SO blameless,
he was so generally respected by his
neighbors on account of his sterling
qualities that the atrocity of the murder
was ine1plicable. Every one who knew
him felt that his fancied wrongs so prey
ed upon his mind that for the time he
was not responsible for his acts. His
family were left in rather destitute cir
cumstances and were SO young as to be
unable to provide for themselves. His
wife never abandoned hope, and with q
degree of devotion which only a woman
can feel, she worked increasingly for his
pardon. A poor, modest woman, and
one entirely unacquainted with the intri-
caeies of the work she charged her life
with, she was indefatigable in her efforts
and never yielded to despair, though sue
cess seemed hopeless. Time only gave
strength to her resolve, and failure sug-
gested an effort in new direction. She
never looked upon her husband as NOR
ally guilty and through the long time he
was confined she kept the thoughts of
home ever in mis- mind and his attach
ment for his family unimpaired. Her
devotion kept him from realizing that he
was convict and in spirit he was always
with his family, though deprived of lib
erty to mingle with them. The feeling
of complete severance from the world
and its duties never took possession of
Hogan because of the ever active sympa-
thy Of his wife and he preserved his man
hood and the character which made him
SO many friends before the commission
of his great crime.
He was the best behaved prisoner ever
confined in Waupun, and won the conf
dence and esteem of all the officers
Mr.. Luling, when he became member
of the state board, formed Hogan's &C
quaintance and was struck by his excel
lent record while In the prison. Every
thing be heard of him was in his favor,
and when all the circumstances connect
ed with the murder, Hogan's unblemish-
ed reputation before that one act and his
invariably good conduct since, the con-
dition of his family and the strength of
his home ties, and his age, were consid-
cred by Mr.. Luling, in whom sympathy
for the unfortunate and kind heartedness
dominate all other considerations, he be-
came powerful intercessor for Hogan.
The judge under whom Hogan was tried,
the jury who convicted him, the prose-
cutting attorney and many influential cit
liens joined in a petition for his release.
The law fixing thapenalty for the crime
of which Hogan was convicted has been
changed reducing the length of conine-
ment. When Hogan had served the
minimum time as now fixed, the govern
or pardoned him, and now he is with his
family from whom he was separa ted
about 20 years ago with no hope of ever
being reunited.