The Washington herald., 1906-12-14
FREE BY GIRLS PLEA
Daughters Appeal Secures
Pardon for Father.
THREE YEARS IN SING SING
Had Never seen His Youngest Child
Until He Was Reunited with Fam-
lily at Home in New York YeSter-
day-O'ROuFke sent UD for Arson.
Governor Affected by Letter.

New York. Dec. 13.-Tnrough the efforts
of his little daughter Jennie, John H
O'Rourke is a free man to-day, having
been pardoned by Gov. Higgins, after
spending three years in Sing Sing Prison.
O'Rourke left the prison early to-day
with the governors pardon In his pocket,
and was welcomed at his modest home
at 6Ss Eighth avenue by his wife and six
children.
It was on December Il, 1908, that
O'Rourke entered Sing Sing under sen
tence Of eight years and three months for
arson. He was convicted in Dutchess
County OF setting fire to a barn in which
he had four horses that had been in
sured.
The reunion of the family was most
affecting. Helen, the youngest child, he
had never seen. Frank and Gladys, aged
three and five years. respectively, did not
know Of their fathers disgrace. They
had been told by the mother that papa
was away. and their Joy at seeing him
was b0undless.
Mamma said that the governor would
not let papa come home, but knew that
he would" said Jennie, the Oldest girl.
months ago wrote the governor that he
pardon her papa
Letter to Governor.
The letter she wrote follows:
Ny Dear Governor: Ny papa is in the prison at
Sing Sing, and want him 70 come home 50 bad
Ny mama had 10 put four OF my sisters and broth
ers Ia chidrens home at Greenrdge. on Staten
Island, and Oh how she cries for them. and papa
every night which makes our home very unpleasant
] am trying 10 help my by writing TO you for
mama says yOu can let IA come home to US If y0u
want TO, and oh I want to ask you please TO let
him come home TO us as be vas always good
papa and he always kind to ma and US.
Mama has i've younger children besides and
she IS always crying and ] think II some kind peo-
pie had rot helped her she would have died and
then We would have been left alone. We need Pa
50 bad and l am not able to 90 TO work yet My
little brother Frank had his fingers and toes frozen
last winter and he nearly lost one foot hope
yCuT little girls won't lose their papa ike ! lost
mine. Mama SAYS that some kind people are going
10 ask you 20 let papa come home 10 US; ! hope
you VIII as We love HIM ever 50 much. and then ma
won't cTy anymore
Prayed Every Night.
pray every night for my dear papa and I am
going 10 pray every night and morning, 80 that God
VIII let yOu give us our papa again. Please excuse
my writing l am only little girl twelve years
old Hoping you VIII answer this With love nom
six helpless children, Jennie p Joe II, Frank 3.
Elsie s. Gladys 5. Helen Yours truly.
JENNIE OROURKE
This pathetic appeal caused Gov. Hjg-
gins 70 institute an investigation, and on
October 10 he decided to commute
O'Rourke's sentence 10 three years. BY
the terms Of the Communication OROurke
to-day was set free
Letter Affected Governor.
'Jennies letter affected me very much, "
said che governor. 1T was sensible and
pathetic. and coming as it did from an
innocent child who was suffering for the
wrongs of another. felt that it was only
right to grant her request"
After O'Rourke was sent to prison the
burden on his wife became too heavy, and
she sent four of the chilren to st. Mich
aers convent at Annadale. Staten Island,
keeping only Jennie. the oldest, and Hell
en-, the baby with her. Now they are
back with her again.