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

| Although Shakespeare says that 9TH.
robbed that smiles steals something
from the thief" II Is not Oft 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
to answer for grand larceny. second de-
gree, and the pleader was woman
womanly. kindly, gentle hearted.
| Francis Boyle" made an unsuccess.
full attempt to snatch Mrs. Ida Sedg-
wicks pocketbook, containing small
watch and ST.. while she was passing the
Boulevard and Seventy-third street, al
noon on July L. His case reveals u cad
phase of the hard times.
When Assistant Distrrct-Attorney
0'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 Airs. Sedgwick
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 case
of this kind.
The largest and most important one
was signed by. Mrs. sedgwick. She had
investigated the case OF Boyle" and
had discovered that his rcnl name was
Allan Mclean, and that he lived in
| wretched poverty with a young wife, a
babe babe and an aged father, at a2 West
| Fiftythird street.
Mrs. sedgwlck says In her plea for
| mercy:
Inquiries and investigations since made by INF
| husband Cyrus 3. sedgwick. and myself have
reservations: Defendant Is an industrous s,reet.
car employee, but has been out OF work for q
long time. Living with him and depepdins upon
him Tor support are his aged and helpless father
and his wife and baby, two months old The
family had been on the verge OF starvation for
wecks before defendants arrest. Wife, child and
father showed evident signs OF incipicnt stsr,a-
| tlon. They all seem to be educated and respect.
able,
TIE father Of defendant was formerly we'll TO
do aud welt known In Engiswood. n. J. lie Is
a Union war veteran and draws y PENSION of ~
the entire family. They are about to he svioted
| for non-payment Of rent Mr.. sedswick ana
ants family since we learned their true condi-
| tion. | respectfully pray for the utmost stretch
OF leniencs in his behalf. which In the wisdom
The wan little wife OF Mclean ' sat in
the box nursing the baby. Her cheeks
|
aspect wretched and anxious. while John
Ford, lawyer argued for clemency. The
lawyers most eloquent argument con-
sisted of forty, pawn tickets, represent:
ing every article which the family could
pledge for the wherewithal to stave OF
gaunt starvation.
John F. Reilly, OF the New York Life
of Barrets, Palmer & Heal, GAG Cana
street, each wrote n letter OF commenda.
ton of Mclean as an honest. upright
fair chance In the world. Mclean hac
been employed for long periods by eaci
of these concerns.
Prosecutor O'Hare recommended the
dismissal of the indictment, indorsinl
| the paper as follows:
| The distress which impeiied this defendant u
| attempt the commission OF the crime charged
my and The sSunsapt ,.snS ~ no o. n
| good character. showing that this condition wa
the result OF sheer misfortune and not bat
| conduct. seem to show that he was not in q
condition Of mind to form the intent necs,sar,
70 a crime. The palllation IA so extreme rs Il
Justify the dismissal OF this Indictment
Mr.. O'IIare was Joined in the recon.
mendation by Harry Macedonia. Acting
lDistrict-Attorney.
In discussing the indictment Recorder
Smyth said:
The District-Attorn says that your
condition and that OF your family Dor
dered upon starvation. and that condi-
ton was due to misfortune, not to
Whshey' ne Foou woman Wnom 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 husband was released she
| rushed forward and fell into his arms
and cried and laughed ali at the same
time. And so they went away.
Mclean has been promised employ
ment, and he was given God speed by a
dozen sympathetic strangers as he left
the Courthouse.