The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-09-30

NGNCTIQ0leSS, j. kIli6Q Il man. ana
people look on me as murderer.
want you to keep this III mind so that
while you are growing up, you will
know me for just what am"
The child was sobbing by the time
Casey finished, and then she turned her
face up to his, smiling through her
tears
Paddy, I don't care.r she said. 81
know it wasn't you. 1T was the drink.
I've heard papa talk about such things.
I know my dear Paddy could not kill q
man, and remember what I told you
ever so long ago. When I'm old enough.
I'm going to ry to get you out of here
Thinks Him Mildest of Men.
And that was the ten-year-old girls
view of Paddy's case. She began to in
Quire about its every detail; the more
she heard the more she became con-
WINGED that Patrick Casey in his right
mind was one of the mildest of men.
She never could associate his smile with
that of q deliberate criminal While her
baby fear of the other prisoners never
left her. the attachment. for Casey grew
stronger.
1t was about five years ago. when
Miss Irvine was fourteen years of age,
that she began her first effort to deal
with the situation in a legal way. What
she had done for him during the twelve
years preceding can never be told COM
pletely. Only Casey and she know that
and it is so much a part of their lives
that it has burned in too. deeply to be
told, except as incidents come to their
minds at random moments.
Ore morning Irene came downstairs
in her home with long piece of paper
which she impariously commanded her
father and mother to sign It was an
appeal to the governor OF the state TO
pardon Casey. Meanwhile Irene had be-
come acquainted with Cascy's relatives
and arranged with them to have sim
liar petition circulated through Long Is
land City Hundreds of names were
secured and the petition was sent to
Albany. When it failed Irene was
brokenhearted. and at hrst she was
ashamed TO go near Paddy
Girl Studies Pardon Laws.
For a couple of years she made
careful study of all conditions under
which pardons could be secured ana
there is scarcely a lawyer in Ossining
who has not been told all about Casey's
case at least a dozen times and asked
for advice Every new official who en-
tered Sing Sing prison was quickly con-
fronted by her and pleaded with in
,Casey's behalf.
Irene began to repay casey TOT some
Of the childhood incidents. He was
getting weak and old. Every time she
maid him a visit she took with her
cake, a pie, a glass of jelly or some
other delicacy that she herself had
prepared for him. Several tunes
went to see him every day and helped
nurse him and feed him.
Paddy was willing to die on these
occasions, bat she always talked him
out of that frame of mind with the re
minder that she was getting to be "a
big girl" and would soon keep her
promise.
When she was sixteen Irene had
her mother almost as deeply interest,"
ed in the case as she was and a definite
with % various prison |
officials throughout the state was be-
Superintendent of Prisons Collins
was Interested by the girl. as was
United States District Attorney Young
IF Brooklyn, and they7did much to !
advise and help her. Early in the fall i
IF 1906 she visited Justice Bartlett of |
he court of appeals with her mother
and begged. him to intercede.
She Appeals to Governor.
Justice Bartlett, however, would not |
lid her and the girl determined to see
Governor Higgins. An Interview was |
arranged and several days before last /
Christmas the girl walked tim1dly into
he executive chamber in Albany, ac-
by her mother and fMr.
Young.
II am here TO beg of you to release
| life prisoner who has more than
,aid for his crime" she began.
Then she related all the circum-
tances of the case, telling how much
Paddy meant to her. She told of his
Illness, of his age, of his long years in
| cell and of the smile that showed
he real Paddy.
The tears came unbidden to her
yes and a lump came into the gov
rnor's throat and she made move as
{ to throw herself on the floor at his
eet. Governor Higgins stepped for
yard in time to prevent this and
.rasped her by the shoulder.
GGNTxy ri this q a noble work Won |
re engaged in and 1 will do all I can
or you and your Paddy" he said.
governor" she sobbed. 81 am go
ng to get a great many Christmas
ne gift that 1 really want and that is
he pardon I ask of you for Mr..
;asey. 1 know he will go back to his
amiiy and end his life in peace
The governor looked thoushtfully
t the floor for moment and
winge of pain came into his face. 1t
vas one of the first indications of the
illness that was to end his life so
hortly after.
Eyes, will take the matter up as
quickly as possible, and II can't do 1t
or Christmas, I'll try to make the
,ardon a New Year present to you"
The swiftest train in the world
rould have seemed like a snail to the
irl her anxiety to see Paddy and tell
i'm of the governors promise. A day
r so later the late governor spoke of
he pardon to an associate.
ct have made up my mind to par
on this man. he said.
That Governor Higgins would have
ranted the pardon is certain, if his
Increasing illness had not caused him
} neglect many things he wanted to
o the last few days of his admins
alton Then his term of office ex-
ired shortly before his death.
The new law relating to life prison
rs went into effect, and. because of
lie girls unceasing efforts, Paddy's
ase was the fret one taken up, and
e was the first one of the five life I
risoners to walk out of Sing Sing.
Miss Irvine had expected that the !
q