The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1911-09-13
OLD MAN. s PLEA
SAVES HENN|GAN
Youthful Horse Thief Gets
z Years in PrOtectOry
WAYNE COUNTY SAVES EXPEN-
SES; AND BOY HAS CHANCE
TO REFORM.

William Hennigan, of Scranton,
seventeen years of age, who pleaded
guilty, Monday, August Ia, to being
guilty of selling a horse and rig he
borrowed from Sinquett and Wonna-
colt, the Waymart liverymen, to a
Scranton liveryman for S35, was
brought before Judge A. T. Searle at
argument court, Monday morning,
and committed to the Catholic Pro-
tectory, at Philadelphia, for per-
iod of two years.
In presenting the culprit for SEN
tence, District Attorney M. E. Sim
ons said:
This is the young man that
pleaded guilty to the charge of the
larceny of horse. I've investigated
his story since, and found it to be
true. Mr.. Duffy, County Treasurer
of Lackawanna county, knows the
family and knows the situation, and
would like to say something"
Mr.. Duffy, a white-haired and
fatherly-looking gentleman, came be-
fore the bar and made an eloquent
plea in behalf of the self-confessed
horse-thief.
" Well, Your Honor" he said, 81
live in Scranton, where this boy was
DOl nave hHOWu Ii Ills dlGnIo,
who are now both dead. He has
two brothers and two sisters.
don't recall this boy.
1t was through my son that |
learned of his predicament. l cor
responded with the District Attorney.
| thought I'd come down and appeal
to you to give him a chance, in the
hope that you would send him to
some institution like the Catholic
Protectory of Philadelphia, until he
arrives at the age of manhood. |
want to help him to blot out this
stain on his life, and to prevent him
from bringing disgrace on his broth
ers and sisters, for the memory of
his dead father and mother"
When asked how old he was,
young Hennigan replied that he
would be eighteen on June %.
don't care how long l stay
there" he confessed to the Court.
81 wouldn't like to stay there too
long. l wouldn't want to go to the
penitentiary, he continued hastily.
" Mr.. Duffy, if you will take him
down there, without any expense to
the county, l am disposed to grant
your request" said Judge Searle.
"All right" answered Mr.. Duffy.
Judge Searle thought that the
sentence ought to be made long
enough so as to be of some benefit
to him. He instructed the District
Attorney to make an order to that
effect, Mr. Simons declaring that
the Court is authorized to send a
young man of this age to any in
stitution, receiving State aid, that
will receive him.
tn, hoh Af hie
family" gratefully remarked Mr.
Duffy.
You don't look like a bad boy"
said Judge Searle, to the prisoner
You are reckless and careless.
You can certainly thank Mr.. Duffy
for the interest he is taking in you.
l hope when you come out you will
be repentant. Two years will GER
tainly prove whether you are peni-
tent or not.
" This disposition of the case will
save expense to Wayne county, as we
would have to pay to take you to
the penitentiary, and pay while you
were there.
" The sentence of the Court is
that you pay the costs of prosecu-
tion; restore the stolen articles if
you have not already done so; pay a
fine to the county of $25; and that
you be committed to the Catholic
Protectory at Philadelphia, there to
be kept for a period of two years
from this date; and to be removed
to said institution by p. F. Duffy,
treasurer of Lackawanna county,
without any expense to the county of
| Wayne. We further order that the
fine and costs in this sentence be re-
mitted. "
Young Hennigan seemed much re-
lieved at the light sentence he re-
ceived and told a Citizen man that
he was never in trouble before. He
also told the reporter that he was
collecting tickets for the roller
coaster at Lake Ladore this Sum-
mer, just prior to his escapade.
Mr.. Duffy told the reporter that
he was a neighbor of the Hennigan
family. L did this" he said, 'be-
cause he stands alone in the world,
and just to keep him out of State's S
| Prison"