Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1910-12-02
BOY FIEND'
MAKES PLEA
FOR MERCY

effort to have tne cnCltlOns Oh nlS
confinement ameliorated.
Pomeroy has been In prison for
thirty-six years. He :, as fourteen at
the time he committee the frightful
crimes which won for I'm the title OF
the boy fiend." Only Is youth saved
4 him from hanging. TT condition on
which his sentence wa commuted to
life Imprisonment was that his con-
nnement should be so tary." and he
alone of the inmates the Charles
town state prison is nj Per permitted
10 see his fellows. Tkere is a con-
vict whose duty 1t is to shut the door
of Pomeroys cell whenever visitor
enters the corridor.
He was a newsboy. and his reading
was confined to dime novels. But In
the course of his Imprisonment he has
educated himself. He understands
several languages and is an omni-
vorous reader.
He has made at least ten efforts to
escape. all Of them characterized by
the utmost ingenuity Aside from this
he does not give his keepers much
trouble. In his written statement he
does not ask for liberty. but for the
mitigation of the hard terms Of his
Imprisonment.
The statement in part Is as follows:
Massachusetts State Prison.
Dear Sir:
whether my case can have your
sympathy / do not know. Still, an
effort to uplift this life would bring
you pleasure, as 1t brought pleasure
to Governor CASTOR in 1875. His mes
sage to me US8S) was: I am not
sorry, am glad l saved that boys
life.' He would not sign my death
warrant (See council records July,
1851
"You know all about my case. Pub
lie feeling against me is responsible
for the deeply rooted and persistent
newspaper misrepresentation. all
these years, and that public feeling
was due to newspaper exaggeration
and notoriety In 1874.
"Of course II cannot be denied that
the crime was dreadful and that pub
lie Justice required satisfaction: but
the truth Is no effort has been made
from that day to this to better this
prisoners condition.
'T have no friends. no influence.
cannot get a hearing from the COVER
nor, I have been left to my own de-
vice in this cell all these years.
Il put down a few of the mitigating
features in my case.
Mitigating Features.
II. I was fourteen years old when
arrested in 1874.
y. Public feeling swayed the
course of justice to my prejudice. The
Judge at the trial told the Jury to
bring in a verdict in the first de-
gree or acquit for insanity
That was illegal.
"S The attorney general was so
abusive that the jury interrupted
him, saying, Cease your invective.'
4. My case was recommended to
mercy by the jury.
"5. Sentence, as In this case, to
solitary Imprisonment at hard labor
for life' is unprecedented-there have
been at least fve capital commuta-
tons to this prison since 1874. Not
one was fourteen. Not one was
solitary sentence. At least two of
them have been pardoned.
IS. l have shown a disposition to
reform. have not led a criminal life
here. l would do we'll II given an op-
portunity.
Y. There Is a doubt whether
was fairly tried, legally sentenced.
legally held all these years in a cell.
Tor reasons which / have duly laid
before our supreme court, and to this
oate the judges have given no answer
q to the merit of said contention.
(See their decisions herewith.)
Reason as above (I was tried un.
DER G. s.. Gen. Stats. 1862
Calls His Penalty Cruel.
Solitary imprisonment at hard Ia
Dor for life. on a boy fourteen years
oio. Is contrary to the constitution
ana laws Of Massachusetts,. 1t is
cruel penalty: ex post facto; it vio-
iates the statute of pardons-(G. s.,
:. IfI, s. IL. &C, st. 1887, C. 1917 in
not defining what he meant by his
.ontary; 1t Is uncertain and vague;
ne law says 1t is dark cell on bread
sno water. (See G. s., c. 174S, S. 18;
c. l7s. S. 42). And he should have
said what he meant.
by the constitution and laws. no
ooe can be put out of the protection
" tne law. or suffer illegal penalty;
ssee y. s., C. 174, s. l, 13 Allen, o.
Sep for customary penalties: finally
'ne warrant does not show 1t to be
eondiuonal. II so intended.
All of which gives rise to a well.
iounoed doubt, if was convicted bv
sooo process of law; as per article
amendment to United States con.
sutution No. 13, which by Article
SAID constitution is the supreme
Aw of the land
Will conclude by saying that the
euments herewith are authentic
and Official. n'''
corpus. N"oeas
! Will add that some records neces.
y In my case are denied to me no
- tne list herewith; and If you can
any way assist me to obtain them
a'i tnank you. l submit, too. that
case Is exceptional. worthy of