The Durham recorder. [volume] (Durham, N.C.) 1879-19??, 1890-04-16
ON HIS WAY HOME.
ENTOMBED FOR THIRTY
YEARS.
Pard0ned at Last by Governor
Hill and Now Going Back to
His Old Home Over the
New York Journal j

| "Will you tell me the charge Tor
| first class passage TO Liverpool"
! Ii was in the Office of the Whit
Star Line yesterday. The speake
was a man who did not appear oil
in feature, yet whose hair was silver
ed. He was plainly but neatly dress
ed in brown clothing. and seemet
like an intelligent mechanic upon
holiday
II au going to Ii,llnd to NEE
friends whom / have not seen fol
nearly forty years." said this old sounl
man.
aBeen hard at work all those year
suppost2" commented bystander
The answer came with a quiet smile
"Ihaye been in prison for thirtyront
years"
This remark excited the curiosity
Of 4 Journa reporter. and to him tht
Cd naa told lis story.
lis name is p. Il Brady. Bo n in
llelara, he went to Liverpool at al
early sge, and soon afterward, liks
. ,nal.y Of his conntrymen, h. SOU shi
ms fortune in America, taking up
his residence in Albany. In the year
1858. while be was a mere 10y, be
and a companion entered q tobacco
shop and robbed it.
Brady had worn q fur cap of pecu-
liar shape. This cap led TO his iden-
tiflcation and arrest. He refused to
disclose the name Of his companion,
notwiths anding biibe. AMI threats.
to tbs day the identity of the second
tli,i ha. remained q secret licked in
B ady's breast. He even now refuses
o name his companion, but the Jour
ual reporter learned that the latter
was for many years member of the
Assembly and is one Of the most
prominent politicians in Central New
York.
Charged with burglary in the third
degree. Brady was sentenced TO three
years and six months in Clinton Pri.
son, his imprisonment beginning in
November, 1858.
For two years and seven months he
was known as one Of the most quiet
men in the prison, and was fayorite
with Ibe keepers. Secretly be ehafsd
against the bars and walls and enter
ed into q plot 10 escape, the plot be-
ing led by q convict named james
SeSell, OF Troy. Sewell struck down
Wright, the keeper, and away the
seven conyicts stole.
For two days the men lay In the
cover Of underbush, shuddering as
they heard the sounds Of the search-
ing parties. They we're without food,
yet none dared venture forth in search
Of il. A rarty Of searchers pounced
upon them in their hiding place, and,
without q struggle, they returned %
the prison, where they were at once
chained down in solitary cells.
Wright was dead. The blow had
killed him, AMI they were looked up.
ON as his mnrderers Sewelfs conr
fession did not save bis companions
One by one they we're brought TO
trial IS accessories 10 the murder aud
were convicted, the chief witnesses
against them being three renegade
cUnspirators, who swore that the kill
ing VAS prearrauged. The 6rst con-
viction took place in July, 1861, the
court cOnyening at Pittsburg. Birdy
came TO the bar in February, 1862.
he was convicted Of murder in the
first degree, and the sentence pro
nounced was that he should speud
one year in States prison at hard
labor and then should be hanged.
TIE law providing this strange form
| If punishment had been lobbied
through the Legislature by Hadley,
Of Albany, n well-knoWn lawyer aud
politician. lie knew before its pas
sage that the Law would be declared
Unconstitutional, aad for that reason
secured its enactment, as he wished
u save the lie o; q client, Mrs. Har-
tan, who had been convicted of the
murier Of her husband. His pur-
pose was successful and Mrs. Hartun's
life was spared Hadley was killed
aiterEard by q man named John
Hughes, whom he had defragded.
The law being pronounced uncon-
stiluliunal, no official attempted 70
carrg out the ser ttence, and p. L.
Brady lay under sentence Of death
Tor ten years and seven months, ex,
pccIing that at any hour the sheriff
would enter his cell 10 read the war.
rant Of death.
In November, 1872, Governor
Hoffman commuted his sentence u
imprisonment for life. He was nj.
most . cripple, biz right leg being
practically useless, for he had care