The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1907-01-19
Thomas O'Connor Once
More Behind Bars for
Crime.
Once Falsely Convicted for
Murder, Serving Long
Term.
Kills His Son, it Is Alleged
by Accident, After
Pardon.

NEW ORLEANS. Jan. 81 don't
believe there is a man IN the world Who
has suffered so much unWstly as my
husband. unless il is Captain Dreyfus.
confined for something he did not do on
DEVILS island and the story OF Thomas
O'ConnOr ali through is fun OF cruel
wrongs and bitter hsrdships."
Mrs. Thomas O'Connor made the
above statement in the little house OF
grief and sorrow. 1895 Constance streets.
the house from which only the day be-
fore the son. 81 bright young man with
a future before him, had been borne a
corpse, slain by his fathers hand. TO
the waiting hearse backed up against
the curb.
II was few years after the civil war
that the New Orleans Thomas OCon-
nor, then "a man I'm his early twenties.
went 20 Texas and became attached 10
the millionaire O'Connor's this uncle'sl
ranch. O'Connor worked on the ranch
from ls6s To 1871, leading the wild life
Of a cowboy and plainsman, and then
his uncle gave him his note for $50 90
Tor services rendered 10 be presented
later.
shortly after this young OConnOr and
Mexican named Dlaz were rounding
up some cattle belonging 10 the ranch.
and the Mexican dis0beyed some order
given him by the American. and. draw
ing his dagger. attempted 10 do muir
der. The Mexican lunged az O'Connor
ana stabbed him In the throat. and then
the latter In defense OF his own life
slew MS Would-be murderer. O'Connor
promptly surrendered 10 the authorities.
ana IN due time was tried by the cour.
ana acquitted.
O'Connor returned TO New ORLEANS
but upon the death of his uncle in 1SS-
went back 10 Texas and presented his
claim for $4,000 against the estate. His
cousin rsked up the old charge OF killing
the Mexican, and had q warrant issred
murder. %
o.Connor had been found not guilty
OF the charge, but the court In which
the triaI was held burned down and an
me records were destroyed, so il was
easy enough 20 frame up another count
= Conhor ned 10 this city and was ar
rested BY officers sent from Texas ia
the little house in Constance street AT
the time the boy who was fatally stab
Ded FRIDAY night was an infant In his
mothers sFms.
OConnOr was later sentenced 20 life
Imprisonment, but was pard0ned bV
Governor LaEham ia Dece mber Of 1904.
O1onnOr then joined his family.
since gaining lis freedom O'COnnOr
entered SUIT IN the Federal courts iu
Texas, seeking To secure the principal
and interest on the note, which now
amounts 10 nearly yl00OO0 and the case
VIII shortly be decided O'ConnOr has
every nope of Winning the suit.
Mrs. ID ConnOr and her daughters in
fearful voices state that the old man
did not murder ais son. lie only killed
him by accident" Mrs . Conner SAYS
with VehemenCe. and IL he had not
been drunk the awful thing would
never would happened. Tom was crazy
from liquor on that day. end he had a
habit OF throwing his arms about when
ne talked. Ny poor boy was on the
step, and his father talked 10 him and
swung his arms about as usual. My
son said, Now go in. father ana The
old man waved MS arms violently and
cried. i won't SO in Ills open knife
was ia his hand, he'd been whiting
JOOthpicks a habit oil his. snd the blade
entered my boys throat That's now
IL occurred