The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1890-09-12
JESSE poMeRoYs PRISON LIFE.
Studying Chemistry and Trying to Com
struct q Self Sharpening Pencil.

Studying Chemistry and Trying to Com
struct Self Sharpening Pencil.
An interesting pamphlet on Grimm
ais, !" prepared by Dr. Charles D. Saw
in, for five years physician at the
Massachusetts state prison, contains
authoritative statements concerning
Jesse Pomeroy. Dr. Sawin says:
1.-THE public estimate of his char
acter, as revealed in the newspaper &C.
counts of his actions in prison, is with
out justification in fact. The express
sions, the boy fend,' 'fiend incarnate,'
however applicable they may have
been to former state, are unwarrant-
able at the present time. The various
stories circulated about his 'torturing
a cat, cutting up mice and rats, are
absolutely without foundation"
Dr. Sawin gives summary of the
circumstances of Pomeroy's conviction
and of the expert opinions given as to
his sanity at his trial for the murder
OF boy 4years and 3 months old, and
then adds:
"Pomeroy entered the prison, his
sentence having been committed to
solitary Imprisonment for life, Sept. 9,
1877, when he was II years old. Dur
ing portion of his term he has been
permitted many privileges and diver
sions, snch as reading and painting.
At one time he evinced a strong desire
to improve his mind, and he tsudied
French, German and Latin. His
knowledge of the languages is, how
ever, only smattering one. Of late
he has taken special liking to chem
istry, and slight spark of inventive
genius has been manifested in his en-
deavors to construct 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 and
moral sense must have improved to
certain degree, since he has not been
associated with other prisoners, and
he hasn't passed through any stage of
'devolution.' His first punishment in
prison was four and half days in a
dark cell on Nov 3, 1877, for trying
to escape, digging cement out of CELL
On the average he has received six and
one-half days punishment each year,
in most cases for tampering with his
cell structure in attempting to escape.
He on one occasion was punished for
insolence to an officer once for re-
fusing to obey an order, and once for
writing an insolent letter to the war
den.' Not very serious otfenses these.
He has never exhibited his former love
to torture at any time during his incar-
ceration in prison, which seems rather
strange were he insane at the time of
the murder He is remarkably cum
ming, clever and quick to see the drift
of any conversation, logical and clear
in understanding, but notably self
willed and persistent. His bodily
health has been remarkably good, eat
ing and sleeping we'll, seldom COM
planning OF his diet, and never asking
for favors of extra rations.
I'm recent interview he stated that
he thought his memory was very good
in regard to some occurrences; as, for
instance, his life in Jail and his first
four years in prison, but he had no rec
objection of ever meeting DR.. Folsom,
and only an indistinct remembrance of
his trial"