The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1885-04-10
THE PUNISHMENT TOO LIGHT


| Dealing With Capital Rdscals Hho h..
S,cindfed Ear and Wide.
Washington special: An Omaha man Ia.
caught a cunning rogue. Peter Finnegan wa,
convicted in the criminal court vest rday ~
violating section $50 of the revised statute,
by sending letter through the mails with in
tent to deGraud. This is the case which
occurred here in October last and was ful,x
published at that time. Finnegan, represent
ing himself to be Alice A. Baker, formerly NJ
Omata a, Neb, wrote to Mr.. Clark Woodman
of that pace asking for assistance. Hs
would start Off in this manner with fonr-
page letter:
81 beg leave TO address you, and hope to
meet with your sympathy. l am poor girl
from Omaha, Neb. in trouble, and KNOWING
| YOU 10 be good man come to you. aud az
| hope to make n col fl ant of you. and that Won
will never in life have cause to regret it. Ipot
deceived by Young man In Omaha, aud
came east to Baltimore TO hide my shame. ~
good ord called my baby to himself, for
which am ever grateful. Lord help me. T
am now so fixed [ am not able to work.n
After writing in the same stain he would
wind up BIZ saying: "Lord, look down on ma
tbs day of my life, and keep me and guide me
in Thy way. l hope that you will answer by
return mail.
yours, unfortunate, in Christ
."ALTcE A. BAKERn
In repolse he would receive a concillatory
letter and the money asked for. Quite num-
Der of letters in response to those he wrots
were found on him, showing that the bust
ness was lucrative one. Tue scheme resax-
ed to was novel and well planned, and worS,
well to his advantage. The accused bling an
expert penman was enabled to carry on the de-
ception without detection for a long time
His detection and arrest was eff, cted OK Mr..
Clark Woodman, OF Omaha. He received one
of The piteous appeals and was asked to direct
bis answer to All address in this city. He sent
$50 to Riggs IL Co.'s bank and requested them
to have the police discover whether the case
was meritorious one or not. The investiga-
ton resulted in the arrest OF Finnegan and
his wife.
After the case had been made out, Detectivs
Edelui, after reporting the circumstances coz
necied with the arrest, stated that when be
got Finnegan at hcadq uarters he admitted
writing the letter, and said that poverty led
him TO commit the act. He had a wife aud
several small children and did not know what
to do for them.
The detective sad at that time he thought
this the only case against Finnegan, but since
then a number of other letters had arrived,
one OF them containing $25. These were read
in evidence. The following was from whole
sale grocer of Omaha, Ne6.:
DEAR ALICE:. l received your letter this
and was glad that you had received
my letter, and that you appreciate what Ssse
DONE as feel that have helped poorEaN
out OF troublesome that will repay me some
way when the opportunity offers, il one ever
should present itself. You ask US tn send you
62O-$15 to redeem your trunk and IS TO get
you some little things to eat. Now, If Youare
'oming second. class you cannot get sleeper,
put If your ticket is via Chicago or st. Lolis,
could send you pass to either place so that
you could take sleeper from there rs you
will no doubt be tired out when you reHh
here. could not get anything from BlA
more or / would send it so you could come all
he way frst-class. To help you Fay for
lnow you will hsv hard enough time travel
ng anyway. 1 hope you will get home oocs
more and that you will always fad in myselta
rue fri, nd. As | wrote you | may 20 TO Chi
ago and st. Lonis this week and if meet
'ou there would look after your getting home.
While / am sending this money without ~
PERSONAL acquaintance with you, feel it Will
ie a. preclat-d, and rest assured your secret
viii be known to none hut curse YES. | hops
'ou will write me as soon as you ct this, and
when you get home | expect TO see you, II not
Jefore.n
Another Omaha man, a bank president sent
IS with his card. With the reading OF these ~
etters the government closed its case. Ths >
defendants announced that they would haR
o accept the case as presented By the pNs
he argument ensued. The jury wers out.
minutes and returned with aver
let of guilty.
Mr. Phelps. in suing for clenency in the
enteDce read letters from different parsons
howing that Finnegan had been temperate,
man, and had tried to make ~
onest living.
The counsel appealed In behalf OF the wife
nd two children that the court would impose
S light jail sentence as possible, aIng INTO
onsderation the fact that the prisoner haa
lready been six months in confinement.
Finueean, in reply to an inquiry from Inc
curt, said that he came here from 81 Louis,
nd had never made a dollar out OF the DuS
ess, the letters with money in them comliS 4
fter his arrest. He had tired hard, but could
OF obtain work.
Judge Macarthur said that he was disposed
} mitigate the sentence In the case, ana alEi
on the fact hat a mau's vile ana
hildren are always the sufferers in such cases.
C was sentenced to three months in jail.
Finnegan was evidently surprised a. lne
gatness Of the sentence, and Tor rev sec
nds could not speak. Then hi burst 1oS3
ranking the judge, while the tears ronec
own his cheeks as he spoke, and in closing
lid: "May the merciful Judge in heaven
eet You with the mercy you have extndedp
e. / thank you." He was then recondueS'