The Coeur d'Alene press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1906-1907, 1907-04-27

Through two legislative administra-
tons Mrs. Maud Ballington Booth.
eounder and head OF the Prison league,
Volunteers of America, sought to OBJ
tain the pardon Of James Flaherty,
ence OF Brooklyn, who some twenty
I've years ago received a life sentence
Dor the alleged murder of his wife. A
lew days ago Mrs. Booth received ap
Snvelope from the executive mansion
y Albany informing her that Flaherty
lad been pardoned by Governor
Hughes.
When Flaherty began to serve his
nsrm In Sing Sing he WIS told by the
hate Foster l.. Backus, who convicted
him. that at the end Of five years the
assistant district attorney would en-
Aaavor 10 secure his release. When
Mr.. BackuB wrote TO ask about Fla
horty, the prisoner he had In mind had
been transferred to Auburn, and as an
Other prisoner OF the same name had
gust died the warden wrote back that
Sho man in whom Mr.. Backus was In
tDrested was dead. Flaherty in Auburn
was forgotten for ten years until Mrs
Booth came across him.
Flaherty, carrying a bird cage In
which were two canaries he had bred
n prison, arrived the other day at the
Grand Central station. where no was
greeted by Mrs Booth, says the New
York Times. At the same time there
arrived by express two dogs, also bred
IN Auburn by Flaherty. who as
~trusty" had earned many privileges.
Even before he arrived at Forty sec
end street Mrs. Booths organization
welcomed him. At One Hundred and
Twenty -ifth street Bernard Sullivan,
enc OF her secretaries, boarded the
train. At the Grand Central station
hrs. Booth had a carriage waiting for
glaherty. He drove with Mrs. Booth.
Mr.. Sullivan and Miss Vera Marshall
% the Prison league toward the Tween
@-third street ferry, where no was to
lake a train for Hope Hall, Mrs. Booths
institution In Rockland county.
Al the open carriage passed west
ward through Forty second street Fla
herty. small, quiet hammered man OF
Mfty-nve, did not appear to be able or
W wish 10 refashion the old time Man
AnttAn. His eyes never left Mrs. !
Booths face. she pointed out the sky |
bcrapers.
TITS very wonderful" he said. ''Be-
Fore went away they had only eve
and six stories to their buildings. l
don't see what holds these buildings up.
Ihe whole city looks to me as though |
L would fall TO ruins some day"
Even on the way across the river
Flaherty did not trouble to look out OF
The window.
Els this the North riverf" he asked. |
VI have come into port on this river
many times when was a fireman on
liners"
On the Jersey side no asked to have
minute alone with Mrs. Booth.
II realize all that you have done for
me-" be told her, "and for the future |
mn determined that win never do
anything That win cause you pain"
Accompanied by Mr. Sullivan he took
train for Hope Hail. where he will
have charge OF a cottage In which the
Wives and children OF prisoners will be
luartered for country visits IN the sum.
her
AT his trial Flaherty admitted that
le and his wife Ind been drinking on
he day his wife was found dead. II
was contended on his behalf that his
wife had fallen while helpless into
luch a position that her breath had
been shut or and that she had died OF
This Assistant District
attorney Backus was half inclined to
believe.
/