The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1890-08-16

Studying Chemistry and Trying tn Con.
struot n self-sharpsning Pencil.

An interesting pamphlet on "Crimi-
nails just prepared by Charles ID.
Sawin. for tive years physician Mt tho
Massachusetts State Prison. contains
authoritative statements concerning
Jesse Pomeroy. Dr. Sawn says:
The public estimate OF his charac-
tor, rs revealed in the newspaper ac-
counts OF his actions in prison. is with
out Justification In fact The express
ions, the boy iiend.' 'iicnd incarnate.
however applicable they may have
been 10 former state. are unwarrant-
able at the present time. The various
stories circulated about his .torturing
cat, cutting up mice and rats, ara
absolutely without foundation
Dr. Sawin gives summary of the
circumstances of Pomeroy's conviction
and OF the expert opinions rs 10 his in
sanity given 1t his trial for the murder
of boy four years and three months
old, and then adds:
"Pomeroy entered the prison. his
sentence having been committed TO
solitary Imprisonment for life Sept ..
1877. when he was IL years old. Dur
ing portion of his term he has been
permitted many privileges and diver
sions, such as reading and painting.
At one time he evinccd strong de-
sire To improve his mind. and he studied
French, German. and Latin. His
knowledge OF the languages is. how
ever only smattering one. OF latc
he has taken special liking to chem
istry. and slight spark of inventive
genius has been manifested in his en-
dcavors to construct "A hollow self
sharpening lead pencil. in which he
takes great pride. His paintings are
hardly worth admiring. but he looks
upon them AS works OF art, this fact
demonstrating to the observer that his
standard is not very high. Without
doubt. his intellect aud moral sense
must have improved to certain de-
gree, since he has not been associated
with other prisoners. and he hasn't
passed through any stage of devotion
His first punishment In prison was four
and a half days la dark cell on Nov.
0. 1877. for trying TO escape. digging
cement out OF cell On the average
he has received six and onc-half days
punishment each year. In most eases
for tampering with his cell structure in
attempting To escape. He. on one oc-
casion. was punished for insolcncc To
an ofliccr;' once for refusing TO obey
an ORDER. aud once for writing an in-
soent letter TO the Warden No very
serious offences these. He has never
exhibited his former love TO torture at
any time during his incarceration in
prison. which seems rather strange
were he insane at the time OF the muir
ders. He Is remarkably cunning.
clever, and ~quick TO sec the drift OF
any conversation. logical aud clear In
understanding. but notably self-willed
and persistent His bodily hcalth has
been remarkably good, eating and
sleeping well; seldom complaining OF
his diet. and never asking for favors Of
extra rations
I'm recent interview he stated that
he thoug... his memory was very good
In regard 10 some occurrences, "A. for
instance. his life In Jail and his FIRST
four years in prison. but he had no
recollection Of ever meeting DR.. Fol-
som. and only nm indistinct rcmem-
brance OF his trial. ~ B6ston Journal.