Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-07-26
BLIGHTED MS YOUNG nIFE.
Tragic Result OF II Judges Too sever,
Sentence fIl sI
From. tie Mem York Herold

Tragic Result OF "a Judges Too Severe
Sentence. 'pl W
From TIE Mem York Herdld. NINA
The Court OF Pardons OF New Jersey
last week granted over 100 partions.
Among those released was John ToomeY,
Of Newark, who had served five years Of a
fifteen years sentence for assault and
battery. The circumstances of his con
VictiOn occasioned great excitement in
Newark i've years ago, aud many at
tempts to have him pardoned were made.
He was rs years old when he attended
the Twelfth ward public school. The
neighborho0d is not the most refined in The
city, and the boy was thrown in with
rough companions. His father was a
hard working laborer and had saved a
little money to buy "a home. One of the
teachers IN the school Was very unpOpu-
lar. He was a German, and had ire
quent quarrels with the parents of his
scholars. One night in a lonely locality
OF the ward he was waylaid and beaten
by three boys. His injuries were not
severe. but, as he lost a watch in the af-
fray, he had young ToomeY arrested ON
the charge of highway robbery.
be-. HIS PARENTS DIE OF GRIKF.
present when the teacher was beaten, but
denied that he took any part in the as
sault. The boys father spent all the
money he had saved in his sons defense,
but to no avail. He was convicted i'm the
Court ofCOmmOn Pleas, ana Judge Lud-
low McCarter sentenced him 70 10 years
al hard labor In the State prison.
The severity of the sentence was a ter
rible blow to the boys parents. Many
nuans asaHea
unjust and started a petition for his par
uOn. Years passed and the boys parents
almost broke down under their afliiction
The father aged fast and the mother was
heartbr0ken. Every cent they had saved
was spent, aud their little daughter
Maggie, a girl of IS, was obliged to 20 TO
work. Slowly Mrs. ToOmey declined in
health until about year ago she stfeI
Her death was more than her husband
could bear, and he died three months at
terward.
In the State prison the boy contracted
cold which developed into consumption
When his mother died the prison physi-
clan thought his condition too critical to
9pprise him of his mothers demise, and
he lived on in ignOranceof it. Hesw 4sn6t
told of his fathers death, and lived on in
hope OF regaining his liberty.
His little sister was lefE alone in the
world, but she struggled braveiy ton,
lighting poverty and seeking her brbtheF's
pardon. She visited prominent officials.
They all sympathized with her, buDcot(d
not help her. Finally Assemblyman VIM.
T.. O'ConnOr, OF the seventh district, OF
Essex county, interested himself in the
case. VIM. p. b. Uriek, the teacheratehd
was assaulted, made statement that he
did not believe that TOomey struck MIN
and the pardon was granted. e-t,g
''wHERE is MOTHER:"
The ravages of disease were indelib'y
stamped on the young mans features
He was met at the Pennsylvania railroad
depot on Saturday by his sister Maggie
The meeting was very affectionatc, and In
his JOY the brother did not notice the
black clothes Of his sister. Full Of hope
he chatted as he walked toward the hum.
BILE home he had not seen for five years. As
he crOssed'the threshold he exclaimed:
"Where is mothery'
With terrible load at her breast his
sister summed up all her resolution, anC
with swimming eyes she gently said;
''She is dead"
"And fsther:0 gasped the young man
ale is dead also"
With cry the young man staggered
against the wall and TELL His last word.
we're:
sob, my God! This is terrible"
Terrified, his sister ran for a physician
Water brought the young man TO con
seriousness, but his eyes glared like thos,
Of wild animal.
"rhey are not deadw he cried sits
lie. You can't take me back TO prison. ,
Physicians pronounced him totally in
sane, and he was taken TO the First police
precinct and locked up until the prope
papers can be prepared 70 send him TO Ua
County Insane Asylum. His sister Il
nearly overcome with grief, and mlicl
sympathy is expressed for her. Th
young man 10 not expected 70 live long, a
he 10 wasting away from consumption.
Striking UnSnimity Among strikers.
The diversity Of views among strikinl
employees all harmonic into unanimou
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