The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-02-15
SULLIVAN ANSWERs HEARST.
Admits Mansiaughter Conviction ana TX
plains It.

WASHINGTON, Feb. l4--Mr. Sullivan =
announcement late yesterday afternoon
that he would reply to Mr.. Hearst's allllson
yesterday to the killing OF man in a saloon
In East Cambridge in 1885. charging that
mr Sullvan had been guilty OF manslaughter
in connection with that event. drew out
a large attendance OF members of the House
OF Representatives to-day. and the galleries
were nearly full.
ION Nov %, 1885. Mr. Sullivan said my
father. Eugene j Sullivan, and myself were
convicted Of manslaughter in the Superior
Court Of Middlesex county. in the State Of
Massachusetts, The case arose in this
manner My father was the sole proprietor
of licensed hotel known as the
Central House, in Cambridge. Mass.
An intoxicated man, who was not
guest and had not entered the hotel that
day. came to the main door. and my fat her,
seeing him, shut the door against him.
Thereupon the man went around 10 tie
back door and broke q window. My father
went out upon the street. took the man by
the collar and demanded that he pay for
the damage he had done. The ma n re-
sponded by striking him, and fight en-
sued II is a fact. and one that has never
been denied, that no weapons Of any kind
were used by either side.
e / came upon the scene at a time when
my father was being overpowered by this
man and took the part OF M father in the
struggle. The jury found that the man was
knocked down 10y blow from my fathers
fist and struck his head against the curb
stone and became unconscious. There was
testimony in the trial OF the case that he
never recovered consciousness and died
some two days after the assault. At the
conclusion Of the trial my father was sem
fenced to three years in the House Of Cor
reCtion.
-The District Attorney, OF his own mo-
ton, stated TO the Court that he would ask
no sentence against me. as | was then
but boy Of II years, in my first year at
the Boston Law School, and without any
moral guilt in the matter at all; that | was
held solely because / was present and was
a party concerned in the assault and was
only technically guilty
accordingly the Court placed nv case
on file. ! was not fined one cent nor i'm
prisoned one minute and walked out OF
court a free man. Prolonged applause
After eighteen months Of my fathers
term had been served the Governors Coun-
Gil Of Massa chusetts parioncd him. and
their action was due 10 the "a az that two wit
nesses who did not appear at the trial in the
court came before the Governors Council
and testified, one that he had ne with the
deceased the next day 10 hotel in Boston.
where he obtained liquor, and that the de-
ceased came hack with him that night in
toricated The other witness testified that
during the night the deceased got up in
his house end while proceeding toward the
yard which adjoined the Premises fell down
a fight OF stairs, was then picked up uncon-
scious. brought 10 his bed and rena ined
there without regaining Consciousness until
he died
Now. Mr.. Speaker the most that can
ever be alleged against me il that | was
technically guilty OF this offence, for even
the District Attorney admitted that was
not morally guilty. and / am constrained
10 say that II my deceased father were
now alive and he were 10 be attacked in
my presence | would come again to his
defence. Great applause.l The facts in
this cnse were fully published in all
the newspapers Of the city of Boston at
the time. All these facts were before my
constituents when / was elected 10 the
Senate of Massachusetts, in 1900 and 1901
and 10 the Congress Of the United States
in 1907 and 1904. And ~ was not until
twenty years after the alleged offence that
any individual was found who felt that u
was necessary or proper 10 allude TO the
circumstances OF the case Applause