Perth Amboy evening news., 1912-11-29
POSTWAR HELD
up THE PARDON
Patrick hurries Home to
Wife After Release.

g W. @C' %AibNAk
rick for the first time in twelve years
last night slept outside a prison cell.
Hundreds today passed and gazed at
s-Acsse, $50 Clermout avenue, which
yesterday was the scene of a remark
Ne family reunion. Patrick stepped
rough the stone arched doorway of
ing Sing prison at 4:25 o'clock yester-
? day afternoon a free man. For the
first time In the twelve eventful years
he was the shuttlecock of the law. a
moment before, be had shown that he
was capable of human emotions, and
that was when he had said that he
was going first of all to the wife
who was Ill and failing.
Then his ordinary emotionless voice
had broken and his eyes had been suf-
fused with tears. He was going to
her, and the great plans for the yindi-
cution of his name would have to wait
until after he had greeted her. COM
forted her as one who had returned
from the grave. He was with his wife
just one hour and eighteen minutes
after he stepped through the prison
door.
An automobile which pressed the
$50 Clermont venue without a stop.
and the elevator of the apartment house
was waiting to take him to the floor
where the woman who never lost hope
was waiting. A daughter, a child when
Patrick came into the hands Of the law
twelve years ago but now a woman
grown, was also waiting. but to her 1t
was like meeting a new relative: to the
other woman 1t was like the answer to
a prayer.
Pardon Went Astray.
Fate decreed that the last day Of
Patrick in prison should be as eventful
as the other great days Of his life. AS
II determined that the ma should
never gain his freedom. 1t contrived
that the official pardon granted by Gov
amor Dix at 6 O'Clock the night before
should go astray I'm the mail. The re-
suit of that was that instead of going
free at 7 O'Clock In the morning he re
manned a prisoner until after 4. and
ther the fact that he got his freedom
in time to eat his Thanksgiving turkey
with his family was due to the good
heart of Postmaster John McNally Of
Ossining. who not only searched the
mail during the day. in spite of it being
a holiday. but located the missent doc
ument at Peekskill in time to have it
reach its destination before the prison
closed for the day.
That meant long hours of waiting
snd watching for many outside the
prison gate. and It also meant long
hours Of nerve racking delay for Pat
rick. chief orderly in the hospital. clad
In the gray Of a "lifer." knowing that
the fat which ave him liberty might
arrive at any moment. But 1t may be
said that during all this time. while
publicly the prison officials were con
graduating him and privately, by
grapevine. the thousand men in the
prison were sending to him their con-
gratulations, the nan never showed
that 1t was anything more to him than
a days experience. Except for the
brief moment he gave way at the men-
ton Of his invalid wife, 1t was the
same old Patrick who had not hesitat-
ed to tell judges and governors that 1t
was not mercy but Justice he was de-
handing: that he was either innocent
I'D therefore entitled to liberty or 4
murderer who should be executed.
Hasn't Decided on Plans.
AS to Plans. he could only say that
after his twelve years in cells he did
not feel himself competent to make an
extended statement. One would come
in time. which would tell his plans to
vindicate himself. but not at present
At the same time he was most happy.
most healthy and most grateful.
The story of the release of Patrick
would not be complete without the
mention Of Thomas Maher and the mar.
rative of what he has done, Maher. a
member Of a very good family at Peeks-
kill, was convicted of forgery about six
years ago and vas sentenced to ten
years Imprisonment at Sing Sing. His
sentence was committed and he was re-
leased just u year ago yesterday for
services he performed in aiding the
state to encouragement In the
prison. Three Of the i've years he
served We're spent as a cellmate of
Patrick. and In that time he learned
the life history Of the man who had
been nearly five years in the death
house and had before him a sentence
Of life imprisonment.
When Maher was released he devoted
MS time to obtaining what he declared
was justice for Patrick. He got into
communication with John T. Milliken
Of st. Louis. the wealthy banker broth
1 E-in-law of Patrick's. and Mr.. Miniken
rs lined the ex-convtct to work for the
pan In prison. Maher was outside the
dooE of the prison at 4 o'clock yester
dGy morning With his brother in-law
james Barker. a wealthy merchant OF
Peekskill. He waited there all the day
and clad In Mr.. Barker's fur overcoa
Patrick tool his first ride as a frp
man In Mr.. Bankers automobile to the
city.
Told Of Pardon "Wednesday.
Patrick knew on Wednesday after
noon that Governor Dix was to pardon
him. His wife called at the prison In
the regular monthly schedule for visit
ors, and she knew. How she knew
they did not talk about yesterday. OF