The evening world., 1894-08-06
her PLEA SAVED HIM.
Mrs. sedgw:Ck Sues for Pardon for
a Mau Who Tried to Rob Her.
He Was Out OF Work and His
Family Starving. 81
Released by Recorder smyth and
Employment Promised.

Although Shakespeare says that 1.-THE
robbed that smiles steals something
from the thief" II lie not en- that the
robbed begs for mercy for the robber.
That was the situation, however, when
Francis Boyle" young fellow of
twenty seven years, was arraigned be-
fore Recorder Smyth, in Part l. of the
Court OF General Sessions. this morning
10 answer for grand larceny. second de-
| gree. and the pleader was woman,
womanly, kindly, gentle hearted.
Francis Boyle made I'M unsuccess-
full attempt to snatch Mrs. Ida Seds-
wick's pocketbook. containing a small
watch and s., while she was passing the
Boulevard and Seventy-third street, at
noon on July II. His case reveals a sad
phase of the hard times.
When Assistant district Attorney
O'Hare called Boyle" to bar, to-day,
1t was not to press him to trial and
| conviction for grand larceny. second
| degree, but to Join with Mrs. sedswicN
IN asking mercy for him, more sinned
| against by society than SHINING.
with the indictment and the sworn
complaint, Mr.. O'Hare handed up to
the grave-faced Recorder, several other
documents. curious documents In a case
Of this kind
The largest and most important one
investigated the case Of SBoyie" and
had discovered that. his real name was
Allan Mclean. and that he lived In
wretched poverty with n young wife, a
babe and an aged father, at bi2 West
Flfty-thlrd street.
Mrs sedgwick says In her plea for
mercy:
Inquiries and Investigations since made BY my
husband cyrua =. setgwIck. and myself have
convinced us Of the truth OF the following rep.
destinations. Defendant Ia an industrious street.
car employee but has been out OF work for a
long time. Living with him and depending upon
him for support are his aged and helpless father
and his wife and baby. two months old. The
family had been on tho verge Of starvation for
weeks before defendants arrest wife ahiid And
father showed evident signs Of lncipient starsa.
able.
The father ~ defendant was formerly we'll to
do and we'll known IN Enslewood. n j. he 10
q Union war veteran and draws n psns,on OF SlE
q month. nov the sole means OF subsistence for
he entire family. They arc about TO be evictcd
for non pay neHt Of rent. MI bedgwiok ana =
and our friends have contributed money to dsts-'.
ton. ! respectfully pray for the utmost stretch
Of lenienc, In his behalf which In the wisdom
AMI mere, OF tho Court and the p,;rct.ht,orasy
Ths wan little wife Of Mclean 1 sa, In
the box nursing the baby. Her cheeks
were sunker, her eyes hollow. her whole
aspect wretched and anxious, while John
Ford. lawyer, argued for clenency. The
lawyers most eloquent argument con-
sisted OF forty pawn tickets, represent
ing every article which the family could
pledge for the wherswithal to stave off
| gaunt starvation.
John F. Reilly, of the New York Life
Insurance Company. and Walter Ross,
street. each wrote a letter of oommenda-
ton OF Mclean as an honest, upright,
Industrious man when he was given a
fair chance in the world. Mclean had
| or these concerns.
Prosecutor O'Hare recommended the
dismissal OF the indictment, indorsing
| the paper as follows:
| The distress which impelied this defendant to
attempt the commission OF the crime charged
ssalnst him: the narrowing destitutioh Of his
good character. showing that this condition was
the result OF sheer misfortune and not bad
conduct seem to show that he was not In .
to a criine. The paiiiatlon is so extreme as 10
Justify the dismissal Of this Indictment.
Mr.. O'Hare was Joined In the recom-
mendation by Harry Macdona. Acting
IN discussing the Indictment Recorder
Smyth said:
The District-Attorney says that your
dered upon starvation, and that condl-
tion was due to misfortune, not to
| whiskey The good woman whom you
tried to rob writes a long letter which
leads me to believe that you are an hon
| est man"
While the Recorder spoke the fright
ened little wife and mother could not
contain herself. She left her chair and
paced up and down the narrow Enclosure
with her baby. girl In her arms and
when her hus band was released she
rushed forward and fell into his arms
time. And so they went away.
Mclean has been promised employ
ment. and he was given God speed BY q
dozen sympathetic strangers as he left
the Courthouse.