The Jersey City news., 1899-12-14
GENERAL = HOME
Little Jennie McLaren Saw
the Court Of Pardons
Yesterday.
PLEAD HER OWN CAUSE
Judges Will Examine Her
Fathers Case To-
day.
Especial to 'The Jersey City News."l


Laren the pretty little lass from Hobo
ken, who is seeking to secure her father $
release from the New Jersey State Peni-
tentiary, left this city yesterday to re-
turn to her home. Before leaving, how
ever, she appeared before the Court Of
Pardons, which met at the prison in the
afternoon, and told most pathetic
story.
Although she has visited her father
many times since his Incarceration, last
ing five years. the child, who Is now in
her tenth year, was not, until recently,
acquainted with the fact that the institu-
ton was anything but a hospital Her
father has for more than two years past
been confined in the prison ward for the
sick, and according to the daughter, never
spoke of his crime, or allowed her to ina
gin that he was or even had been in the
clutches of the law. This was the first
statement made by the youthful mis-
sloner as she stood up in the presence of
the august body and began her appeal
for her parents pardon.
Continuing she explained that her aunt,
with whom she lives, had acknowledged
the circumstances surrounding the
fathers imprisonment, but added that this
was only done after she herself had found
an old newspaper containing an account
of her mothers murder. Proceeding fur
ther, the tiny miss told how hard 1t had
been for her to understand the situation
even after seeing it all before her She
set to work at once she said, upon appre-
ciating her fathers predicament, and had
been trying ever since to bring about his
liberty.
The Judges were much moved by her
simple and unaffected manner, and as she
retired from their apartments one or two
of them stood UP and shook hands with
her. I'VE can't promise anything" she
was told, Except that your petitions will
take the usual course and that your con-
dition will be duly considered" So far
the Board has examined forty of the one
hundred cases that will require it's at
tention, and the name of Thomas Nc
Laren is on the list tomorrow McLaren
killed his wife while under the influence
of drink an don the 20 tn of May, 1894
was sentenced to twenty years in the
penitentiary. His blue-eyed golden hair
ed little girl has been in Trenton since
Monday and during that time has spent
several hours in the prison hospital
Last night She slept at the house of one
of the assistant matrons on South Clinton
avenue, and yesterday when the prison
carriage was taking the members of the
court from the railroad station to the
penitentiary it stopped for the child and
took her along. On the way the judges
questioned her regarding many matters
not connected with the case in which She
is interested with a view of discover.
| ing, If possible, whether she had beer
coached for the particular occasion. But
they were more than surprised to en-
| counter the wonderful mind the little
! thing possesses One of them, in speak
| ing of her afterwards, said that hs
looked upon the lass as a prodigy OF
nature, and remarked that he had never
| come in contact with any one having sucf
| a wonderful brain.
Those who came in touch with the gir
during her stay in this city and who hat
much to say to her came to look upon the
| child more as young woman, her thoughts
and actions being so far in advance of the
| tender years that have marked her life.
| Dr. Bruere, who was in the Prison Ply
sician's Office while she was there, held a
| leilSlIyu cO4F6TSdliOu WflH lilt llltt ylSA-
| tor, and learned that she was just as in
| teresting as she had been pictured in the
papers. He took book of old portraits,
| principally etchings, and in turning the
pages, covered the names of many of the
different great men of history, and ask
ing the tiny wonder to name them by
/ their faces, was told that one was Henry
| Clay, another Benjamin Franklin, a third
| General Grant, and so on.
| Head Keeper Moore and Mrs Moore, ths
matron, were very much impressed witt
| the tot, and say that things about thu
| penitentiary were greatly frightened bs
her two days stay with the walls.
Jennie in speaking of her attempt t.
cause her fathers freedom told the prison
| officials and it is said that she also stated
it to the Board Of Pardons that she hard
| ly comprehended the gravity of hei
parents offense, but that she was posi-
tive of one thing, and that was that hi:
death would result from Imprisonment
while she and her aunt might. If he wa!
liberated nurse him back to health ant
happiness. She wanted him to be will
| them at Christmas. and would sacrifics
| everything to accomplish that end.
4 soenanrre, fanrr fucrfrurcn