The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-03-21
SWAPS POEMS FOR FREEDOM.
HARTs ISLAND SINGER NAILED
BY MENDICANCY EXPERT.

DonnelIy's Touching Verses to Magistrate
Breen Are Only second Hand, So He'll
LnbOr I'm POtter's Field q while Longer
Tho Finish OF r Once Clever BeBgar.
MAGISTRATE Breen decided yesterday not
TO release John Donnelly, who sent him an
anneal in verse for freedom from Harris
island, where he was sent in january to
lahor in Potter's Field for three months be-
cause he went on a tear on First avenue.
James Forbes, the mendicancy expert of
the Charity Organization Society, put the
kibosh on Donnelly's hopes OF freedom.
He read yesterday morning in THB Sun
that Magistrate Breen was kindly disposed
toward Donnelly on account of his poetic
appeal and had decided to release him.
Mr.. Forbes didn't nave to search long in his
library before he found a volume labelled
Poems of John Donnelly." He iotted
down a few notes about Donnelly's record,
and telephoned the facts to Magistrate
Breen. The Magistrate then sent word to
the Harris Island authorities to keep a close
watch on Donnelly until he had served out
his time, and to confiscate any poetry he
tried to smuggle of the island.
The Charity Organization Society's record
Of Donnelly begins March 80, 1908, when he
was arrested for begging. He was sent to
Harris Island for six months by Magistrate
Hammer In the Yorkville court. A month
later the Magistrate heard from Donnelly
In this wise:
There is mercy In each ray OF light
That mortal man Ger saw:
There Is mercy in the God above,
And hope In courts Of law
There Is mercy in each creeping thing,
Since nrst the world began;
There Is mercy In Judge Flammer,
To discharge me like q man.
Magistrate Flammer decided that Harris
Island was no place for such q genius, so
he had Donnelly turned loose after serving
two months.
The Charity Organization Society then
became interested in Donnelly and wrote
TO Wa rden Fox of the workhouse for his
record. The warden sent this:
In regard to John Donnelly. would say
that this man has been here at least fifty
times. He escaped once from the steamer
Fidelity, while he was being taken to the
island, at another time from the Blackwells
island bakery. and a third time from Harris
Island. He has received special discharges
several times by writing poetry to judges"
Donnelly was nailed again for begging by
m embers of the mendicancy squad In No
vember, 1904. Magistrate Hogan sent him
over to the island for elk months. He
decided to try his muse on Mr.. Forbes this
time, and within a month sent this letter:
Mr.. James Forbes. tc you these lines I write.
For trying to gain my liberty I'm making a terri
BILE fight.
] have seen you on haTts Island the last time you
were there:
While working on the dock that day your eyes
at me did stare.
You saw that | could do hard work. no matter where
l be,
So / hope that you'll do something on this charge
of vagrancy;
For l have served three months OF this and going
on the four.
And II you do, l promise you Ill thank you over
more.
Now / hope you'll pay attention TO this little
rhyme of mino,
And release me out Of Po,tsrs neld. where l am
doing time,
Mr.. Forbes wasn't at all impressed by
this efusion and he didn't tear his hair
sny to have Donnelly released. According
to the records the poet served his full time
Donnefy fell foul Of the m~endicancy
squad again early last year, and was handed
out the usual sojouTn on Harris Is land
by Magistrate Ommen. Donnely's muse
got busy again, and Magistrate, Ommen
was the Victim. This tim Donnelly wrote:
II was on the 1Ath day Of March.
As drunk as drunk could be,
was taken 10 the Yorkvtlle court
And charged with vagrancy.
Your Honor, Magistrate ommen.
A few words to me did tell,
And in those words plainly saw
The island OF Blackwell.
There was another verse to this, but it
was identical with the last stanza Of the
lines dedicated to Magistrate Breen the
other day. Magistrate Ommen left office
q month later. and the last thing he did
was to order Donnelly's release.
The Charity Organization people say
that Donnelly used to be a pretty successful
beggar, but that long acquaintance with
First avenue saloons has made him Just
9 plain bum They think that he has