Evening journal., 1896-03-16
WINS FREEDOM AT LAST
Released After Thirty Years
Penal Servitude.
RESULT OF A FORTUNATE MEETING

A Life Sentenced Convict's Peculiar Ex-
pcrience-Leavitts Troupe of Players
Visited His Prison, and the Managers
Wife Secured His Pardon.
WrLKEsBARRE Pa, March 16.-Mrs.
H. j.. Leavitt Of this city has received the
following telegram;
carson CITY, New, March 10.
Mrs. II. l.. Leavitt:
Again stand erect. Many thanks.
VIII visit you soon.
"B. J. COsGROvE." " .
The telegram tells its own story. It
means the pardon and restoration to oiti-
zenship Of one convicted Of manslaughter
81 years ago and who had been serving
life sentence behind the walls Of the state
penitentiary at Carson, Ney.
In 1865 II. j. Cosgrove was a young
man of 30 and resident Of Reno, New.
Ho was keeping company with a young
lady to whom he was engaged. Thoy
went TO ball one night IN the early
spring Of 1865. Between dances the young
man INDUCED freely in wine, and IL was
after his third visit to the cafe when no
returned that he found his sweetheart
dancing with n stranger.
The sight angored him. and he went to
her and insisted that she leave for home.
She refused and maddened and losing all
self control, he pulled out knife and
stabbed her She died almost instantly.
Ho was promptly arrested, tried, convicted
and was sentenced to end his days in the
state penitentiary, whore he served up
to March 10, 1896.
Owes His Pardon to an Actress.
Cosgroye owes his pardon to Mrs
Leavitt. The latter accompanied her hus-
band, who was then the manager of
dramatic company, on q tour Of the Pacific
coast IN 1895 and played in Reno during
the week Of the state fair. Governor Jones
was there and made the acquaintance Of
Mr.. and Mrs Loavitt The following
week the company played in Carson City,
and at the suggestion Of Governor Jones
"a performance for the inmates Of the state
penitentiary was given in the prison
There were 6l9 inmates, and n stage was
set up at the rear end of tho Immense din
ing room, the company using some Of the
coils of the inmates for their dressing
rooms There, in the presence Of the state
convicts, with the governor and stan and
all the state officials as onlookers, was
givon a three hour porf formance
At its conclusion number of the con-
viots came up to Mrs. Leavitt and her hus-
band and thanked them very heartily for
the pleasure they had given them and
presented each member of the company
with some little trinkot of their own
handiwork. Among the humber was Cos
grove, who presented Mrs. Leavitt with a
pair Of tlno singing canaries raised by
himself, a privilege that the warden had
granted him and which he had pursued
for years. Mrs. Leavitt grew interested In
him, and after a little persuasion she
learned the story of his life.
A Newspaper Mans Opposition.
Every year for % years, he told her,
his case came up before the board Of par
dons for clemency, but no favorable ne
tlon could be had. This was due to the OPP
position of E. j. Stoll a newspaper man
OF Reno who was a friend Of the girl kill
cd, and his protest had sufficient weight to
prevent any olemoncy being shown in the
case. Mrs. Leavitts heart was touched,
and she went TO work with woman's
will TO secure the convicts pardon.
A personal interview was had with the
governor that night The chief executive
was much moved, but pleaded that he
could not take any favorable action ow-
ing TO the protest Of Mr.. Stoll of Reno
The latter was seen, but he said he would
do nothing until he heard from the muir
dered girls brother, who was located in
New York.
When Mrs. Leavitt came enst, she hunt
cd up tho brother and got his consent to
the pardon. Then Stoll rolented. A par
don soon followed and Cosgrove's telo-
gram brought joy to Mrs. Leavitt's heart.
Mrs. Leayitt is now permanently located
here.
The engineers Of the Queen Anne
railroad have secured permanent offices
In Denton and will probably remain there