Omaha daily bee., 1896-03-28
THIRrY-oNE YEARS IN PRISON.

How u. y. Cosgrovc, who Murdered
His Sweetheart, Procured n Pardon.
On the 14th inst Mrs II. L. Leavitt OF
Wllkesbarre, Pa, was handed the following
telegram
March 12, Carson City New, 1s96--Mrs.
H. l.. Leavitt; Again stand erect; many
thanks. Will visit you SON.
"B. J. CosGROvE."
The telegram means the pardon and res
toratlcu to citizenship Of man convicted Of
manglaughter, who had been serving life
sentence within the walls of the state prison
at Carson, New.
Thirty-one years ago. relates dispatch to
the Globe-Democrat b. ]. Cosgrove was a
man aged 3O and a resident of Reno, New,
He was keeping company with a young
woman. and they we're to marry.
They went to ball one night in the early
spring of 1865, and the young man drank
more than was good. He was of a Jealous
nature, and, on his return to the ball room,
which he had left to indulge In further drink,
he found the woman dancing with stranger.
1t angered him. and he went to her and in
sisted that they should go home. She re-
fused. and he pulled out knife and as
saulted her. Her death was almost instan-
taneous. He was promptly arrested, tried,
convicted and was sentenced to end his
days in state prison. He has served thirty
one years.
Cosgrove owes his pardon to Mrs Leavitt.
The latter accompanied her husband, who
was then a manager Of a dramatic COM
pany, on a tour OF the Pacific coast in 1895.
Last October the company played in Reno
during the week of the state fair. Governor
Jones was there. and made the acquaintance
Of Mr.. and Mrs Leavtt. The following week
the company played in Carson City, and, at
tha 1000 4 a
formance for the pleasure of inmates cf the
state prison was given in the prison
There were 619 inmates in the prison, and
a stage was set up in the rear end Of the
immense dining room the company using
some of the cells of the inmates for their
dressing rooms There, in the presence of
the state convicts, with the governor and
staff. and all the state officials as on
lockers, the performance was given for three
hours. After the performance, a number Of
the convicts came up to Mrs Leavitt and
thanked her for the pleasure she had given
them, and presented each member of the
company with some trinket of their own
handwork.
Among the number was Cosgrove, now a
man of 61, and he presented Mrs. Leavitt
with a pair of fine singing canaries raised
by himself privilege that the warden had
granted him, and which ne pursued for
years. Mrs. Leavitt grew interested in him,
and after little persuasion she drew from
his lips the story Of his life. Every year
for twenty-five years. he told her, his case
same up before the board of pardons for
clemency but no favorable action could be
had. This was due to the opposition OF E.
j. STALL newspaper man of Reno. who was
friend of the woman killed, and his pro-
test had sufficient weight to prevent any
clemency in his case by the pardon board.
Mrs. Leavitt's heart was touched, and she
went to work with will to secure the con-
yicte pardon. A personal interview was
had with the governor that night. The
governor was much moved. but pleaded that
he could not take any favorable action owing
to the protest. of Stall Of Reno. The latter
was seen, but he said he would do moth
Ing until he heard from the murdered girls
brother. who was located in New York
When Mrs. Leavitt came east she hunted
up the brother and got his consent to the
pardon Then Stall was corresponded with
and re!ented The pardon was then granted
and Cosgrove's telegram brought joy to Mrs.
Leavtts heart.