The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-11-09

Mccarthy Denies That He Intended to
Befray His 0Pais.r

John James Mccarthy, q self-confessed safe
cracker, and whose confession his two
"pas" Harry Connolly and Frank Adams, were
each sentenced to seven years in the pententiary,
writhes beneath the bitterness that has come
with his liberty Though he turned states
evidence and escaped free, he finds himself
Stunned not only by honest men but by
thieves, and he fain would be in prison and
Whitehall his confession. The following letter
written and sent by him to the PosT-IsTELLI-
GENCER for publication easily conveys the
mans unhappy frame OF mind:
To correct false and base impression which
has gained ground through the publication of
MEASUREMENTS concerning me | take this
method OF clearing myself OF unjust charges
which have been preferred. The causes which
led me to confess are simple and excusable.
was taken into the Office OF the
chief of police and there shown two
chums, Adams and Connolly. The statements
were sworn 10 and signed. was told TO make
similar confession, bug refused 10 do so. | was
then told that man could go free If he
''squesled,' and that the sentence of the other
men who pleaded guilty would not exceed three
years. since everything was told by my chums
what was 10 do? Iconscnted 10 confess, also,
on one condition, and that was that my
chum. Harry Connolly. should 20 free. The
condition was accepted and 80 / made my state
ment. which was published. The alleged con-
LESSONS OF my chums. which were shown to me-
were forgerics. did not know il then; no, not
until the following day. requested 10 be al
lowed 10 see my chuIns, but / was sfernly re-
fused. / refused 10 testify, seeing that was led
by falsehood into making confession
Ii would have happened with any of the
others. but misfortune seemed to fail on me.
that l should be the one 10 sign my statement
when the others IN reality were forgeries
They would not permit me to enter the
courtroom during my chums' hearing before
Justice ' on ToDel They knew | would have
sIopred them tTom pleading guilty. They kept
me away; refused all my entreaties IN til lhe die
was cast. | begged on my knees, prayed aud
imp!ored that &c permitted 10 plead guilty re-
ceive my sentence, and that my chum, Harry
Connolly be allowed 10 go free, but everything
was denied me. Ny God. what could do9 To
take the Place OF my eAums ] would aye. would
do both their termS-iourteen years, or even
weniy-anything, ii 1 could only set them free
Believe not, beg OF you, the false tongues of
the police. q Gcdt what could / do9 | offered
myself on my knees ] offered myself TO the
judge To take one OF their places: but they
would grant me nothing. Though | lie a Grim
inal aud outcast from society, the thought OF
ever beFraying my chums never entered NV
head Il is false, false, false
Trusting. kind sirs, that you will give me.
though outCast, little consideration at YOUR
hands and insert this letter, viii feel deeplv
grateful. am, JOHN J. MCCARTHY.
When Chief OF Police Rogers was shown the
above be smiled sstraealy and said: "Mc-
Carrhy's character is too well known for me 70
make any denials and explanations"