Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-07-17

(From a photograph taken at the age
of thirteen, shortly before his con-
viction and sentence)
BOSTON. July 17.-Jesse H. Pome-
roy, known for almost four decades as
1.-The boy murderer and held by an
earlier generation to be the most des-
perate criminal abnormality Of the age,
Is soon 20 leave his cell for greater
freedom IN the state prison at Charles
town after having spent thirty-seven
years in solitary confinement
This announcement was made yester-
day. when 1t was declared that Gov. Foss.
impressed by the evidence submitted to
him from many sources of the great
change in Pomeroy's character. has de-
cided to allow the life convict to en-
Joy many of the liberties granted well
behaved prisoners.
Gov. Foss will never grant Ponmeroy
full pardon, and 1t is generally believed
no other governor ever will take such
action. but to give the man who has
inspired dread in the hearts of even his
keepers ever since the day when, as
fourteen-year-old boy, he was thrust into
punishment" cell in the Charlestown
prison, any portion of the freedom en-
joyed by tractable convicts Is considered
evidence of transformation in the
criminals makeup.
Women Sign Petition.
Gov. Foss's determination to do what
many of his predecessors have refused
to do. In the face of prayerful petitions
signed by women in all parts of the
country. is set forth In a letter he has
sent to John Ernest Warren, librarian of
the American Dramatists Club Of New
York. Warren. who was q playmate of
Pomeroy, recently made an eloquent plea
in behalf Of his lifelong friend, and Gov.
Foss in his reply made known that War
ren's presentment Of the facts had much
to do with his reaching his decision.
But Pomeroy's greatest champion has
been his mother, now sad-faced. white
haired woman nearing her SEVENTEEN
year. Although denied even the right to
see her son. and having to accept the
truth of the fact that he was regarded
all over the civilized world as the most
his mother never faltered In her faith in
his innate goodness. nor forsook for a
moment her plan to gain for him his free
dom. At each holiday season, Thanks
own birthday. she has gone to the prison
with big basket Of good things to eat,
and 1t is she. also. who has kept him
supplied with current magazines and
books.
Killed Boy and Girl.
Pomeroy killed two children, a boy and
girl. after treating them with barbaric
cruelty. He inveigled other children into
isolated sections. stripped them of their
clothing, tied them to trees or upon
boards. and then beat them until they
were unconscious. He delighted IN stick
Ing pins into their unconscious forms and
cut them deeply with q knife When this
juvenile monster. then fourteen years old,
was finally run down and captured he
barely escaped lynching. His youth alone
saved him from the death penalty.
Last october he wrote his own story Of
he characterized as legal errors In his
conviction. In his plea he said:
respectfully suggest that this prisoner
may nave some encouragement in doing
well. He Is no worse than his neighbors
Kindness Is never lost on any one, and
this prisoner has all hts life shown HIM
SELF responsive to kind treatment AL
though j have made some errors here,
Gus. No officer has ever accused me of it.
The register shows the fact, as I saw.
yet the newspapers have been full of
yarns about me. as. for instance, that /
~ A0O " nil lilo W$4lUSIl, and was so smut
up In a cell.
Action by Gov. CASTOR.
ITO give me the privileges the govern
or will have to be consulted, as the SEN
tence Is still solitary. and the commits
| sioners and warden have no authority
to leave me beyond my cell. Whether
my case can have your sympathy I do
not know. still an effort to uplift this
life would bring you pleasure as it did
Gov. CASTOR in 1875. His message to me
uss0 was: I am not sorry: am glad
l saved that boys life He would not
sign my death warrant.
Public feeling against me Is RESPONSE
bic for the deeply rooted and persistent
newspaper Misrepresentation all khese
years, and that public feeling was due to
newspaper exaggeration and notorlety in
1874. OF course it cannot be denied that
the crime was dreadful and that public
justice required satisfaction; but the truth
Is no effort has been made from that day
to this to better this prisoners condition
IT have no friends, no influence; 1 can
not get a hearing from the governor 1
hava heen left To own devfcoS in THE