The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-12-14
FOR HIS BROTHERS CRIME.
MIoHAEE ODONNELI HAS sERVED
IL TEARS IN SING SING.

Brothers Deathbed Confession Made tho
Truth Known-A saloon burglary in 1888
Led TO This Miscarriage of Justice-Par-
don Expected from Gov. Black To-Day.
Gov. Black may sign a pardon to-day for
Michael O'Donnell. q prisoner in Sing Sing
prison. who has been there for ten years and
seven months. serving a thirty-year sentence
for q crime which his brother committed. and
OF which he was innocent. except so far as a
guilty. knowledge Of It went. Beyond the fact
that Michael o'Donnell appears TO be inno-
cent OF the particular crime OF which he was
convicted. there appears to be little to say in
his favor. He did stick to his brother James.
who was the real criminal in the case. and re-
fused to have James speak out and clear
him until James was on his deathbed. When
James fell III OF ption about a year
ago and wanted TO make n clean breast OF the
matter. Michael is reported to have said:
Never mind now. Jimmiei hasn't long to
live. anyhow. and l guess / can stand IL here
until he Is gone"
The crime for which o'Donnell was sent to
prison began with the robbery Of Max G..
Stein. a saloon keeper, of 410 East Sixty-fourth
street. early on the morning OF April 8. 1888.
Stein lived over his liquor store. About $3.50
A. NJ. Stein was awakened by the barking Of
dog next door. and then he heard a crash OF
glass and felt n rush Of cold air. When he
was about to rise a man whom he afterward
recognized as Michael Feehan came into his
room. holding n revolver in one hand and a
lighted candle in the other hand. Feehan
forced the muzzle Of the pistol into STEMS
mouth and threatened to shoot II he made any
resistance and then called. Come on!" to
his corfederates. Thereupon another man,
whom Stein atterward swore was Michael
Q'Donnell. and q third man came In. and while
resbsd b kep 6, SIS rs IN p, moneY IN and st sams is mo =
Thu, party had previously been drinking below
in the barr9om after breaking into the place.
and Stein. getting a revolver OF his own. opened
fire on them in the barroom. At this time a
window from outside and two OF the men ran
out; but Feehan stayed and exchanged, shots
policeman arrived and ran off. The police.
man followed and captured him.
ter fs sent ta %reee m E"f t. se dov. Il Bl aeP1 By p 5ram At. Il.
torney Gardiner. recommending the pardon
Of O'Donnell. are as follows:
Feehan's accomplices on the night OF the
brother # Michael; and tkiohard Kelly: ;yames
lost his hat in his flight. He ran home to 44iS
East sixty;third street. where he lived with his
ind his hat. Stein saw Michael near the sa.
between the two brothers, thought he recos-
nlzed him as one OF the robbers. and had him
arrested At the trial Stein s wore positively
to the Identification. Feehan pleaded guilty
and o'Donne!l. was convicted, although his
mother and his brothers, William and Ed
ward. testified that Michael wac in the house
all Of the might when the robbery, was done.
and Feehan swore that ,O,Donnell was not
one Of his pals. although he would not tell
fed to the same statements, but as he had
been in trouble with the police before. as had
two OF his brothers. the defence didshim no
good.
He and Feehan were each sent to State Pris-
on for thirty years by Judge Randolph b. Mar
tine. before whom they were tried.
Kelly was not known as a participant in the
robbery Of Stein. but later he fell into the
hands OF the law on another charge and was
sent to State prison.. He died some years ago
in the Matteawan Asylum, for the Criminal
Insane. Judge MARITIME. who tried the case.
and the District Attorney who prosecuted II
Sing. Sing and died about two years ago. On
his. deathbed he declared that Michael O'Don-
nell was innocent. Then it was suggested to
Michael o'Donnell, that an effort should, be
made to get him free. but he refused still to
implicate his brother. Finally James O'Don-
nell was taken i'll and on his deathbed he sent
for a priest and n notary and made q full COM
fession. That night he died.