New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1906-10-11
FREES CONVICT FATHER
Little Jennie ORomkeS Letter
Wins GOUernor's Pardon.

ny, bur won't father be the ioyeliest birthday
present girl had" cried little Jennie
oRourke. dancing I'D and down IN front Of the
shiny kitchen stove that her young hands have
kept clean these four long years in her bare rear
tenement home
Wen borrow the phonograph Of the ladies in
the front house, and il we don't get put out for
the noiser'-
And away she whirled in a dslirium Of pride and
happiness 10 embrace with her mother for the
thousandth time since first they heard the glorious
news Of her fathers release from Sing Sing.
For Jennie is the fourteen year-old girl whose
appeal in behalf Of her father touched Governor
Higginss heart that he pardoned the man. Mr..
ORourl1e is expected home December IL. and
December Is is Jennie's fifteenth birthday. Jennie
is tan for her age, with handsome features and
her mothers blue eyes. Yesterday IN her wine
colored skirt and peekaboo waist. her hair tied
with heliotrope ribbon. she didn't look bit like
girl who had worried and studied for four years
how 10 get papa back; or like little mother, -
either, though that is what she has been. cooking
and washing and scrubbing bravely ard faithfully
the poor rooms that make her home, and tend
ing Helen, tie baby night and morning. when she
wasn't al school With fire escapes and the neigh
bors smoke-yellowed wash for scenery. and the
deep canyon Of the court with its ash heaps and
garbage pals by way Of vista, IL isn't much Of a
home as homes go IN this imperial city.
There is icebox IN the corner by the window
and over II the picture Of good looking man. with
big black mutton chop whiskers. II IS Papa"
whose release has been persstently lo1sed and
striven for by his eldest daughter. And there's a
sofa and dresser and a kitchen stove. few cups
and and chinneypiece OF gimcracks-
that's about all if you except the tiny bedroom
that leads back into darkness.
But many Fifth avenue palace might have en-
WED that meagre home yesterday for everybody IN
ST 30 happy.
"Just a drop Of tea end bit of bread" was ell
the happy trio could touch. and as for bed. I'VE
none OF us 81 much thought Of it," declared
Me-
blue and spar king and her whole robust ana ma
ternal person expanding in the new atmosphere Of
hope snd love
Mrs oRourke wears her hair pompadour now,
instead or parted. TO hide the gray" and for a
month she has not been able 10 go out sewing and
washing ana charing. On account Of bronchitis but
she has the whole OF $40 in hand toward the new
home she means 20 make when her husband and
the four children now at St. Michaels. Staten
Island, are restored 10 her.
Some angel1 look after US" said Mrs o'Rourke
cheerily.
THE MAGICAL LETTER
In telling how she came TO write the magical let
ser. Jennie said;
-Four years ago the stable where papa had two
horses up IN Duchess County was burned The
horses were insured. and people said papa set FIRE
10 the place on purpose and he sentenced for
eight years
N Well mamma and did the best we could, but
after while she had 10 send the four middle chill
oren away She got awful sick. and when she was
through work she would cry and cry.
wrote to Governor Odeu about papa hut ]
never got any answer Then ! saw Governor FFig.
slnss picture. He looked nice and kind de.
cioed Ia write and tell him how we missed NV
papa. SO wrote him this letter:
My Dear Governor: Ny papa is in the Drtson q,
sing sing and want him come home SO had
-Ay mamma had 10 put four OF my little brothers and
sisters In childrens home. and oh how sba cries
1or thenl am trying 10 help my ma bv Rrtjr0
YOU TOT mamma says you let Do come home n
you want 10. OH ] want TO ask You uleass N
let MN come home, Is as he was alvravq
a good papa and he was always kind 10 ma and
- anu N---
Mamma has five younger children has,dss r,a
end she Is always crying. and think ~ some LtnS
people had not helped US she would have died ana
then we would have been left alone We naaa No
$50 bad and am not able 20 go to work vet NV n,
Tie brother Frank had his fingers and toes srozar
last winter, and he nearly Lost one foot 49,
your little girls won't lose their papa like L.,
mine. ~ 4Os'
J pray every night for r., dear papa. and 7 or,
going 20 pray every night and morning SO the,
GOO VIII let you give as our papa again p1ease
excuse my writing, as only little girl tvvsl,,s
years old. g. ''''
Hoping that you Will answer this with lo,e ,ro..
ns six helpless ohildren-Joe, eleven: Prank nipa
Ilsie, e.ghti Gladys, five; Helen three ana rnvser
t"eVe' YOURS truly JENNIE o'ROURKE'
Jennie has written three letters IN all
There VIII be a grand reunion today IN q ca-.a,-
prisoners cell In Sing Sing. O'Rourke hasn't So
his Children for three years his wife sine. Ia -
October. he has contracted some stomach trouSl.
while IN confinement and viii be transterraS o.,
treatment 90 Clinton prison in the Adirondacl5,
this week