LIFE SENTENCE

Hokitika Guardian, 21 November 1932, Page 3

LIFE SENTENCE

GAOL FOR 56 YEARS

NEW YORK, October 1

Jessa Pomeroy, - convicted of murder, at ti.e a D e of 14, died at 70 in Bridgewater Gaol, Massachusetts, after sp.nding 50 ycais behind prison • bars. Over 40 years of that term were served in solitay confinement and autnoritios liere bcuevethis to be without parallel in penal hjstory. Pomeroy, who murdered a boy of four under revolting circumstances, was originally saved from the gallows, because the Governor of Massachusetts at that time was conscientiously opposed, to capital punishment and would not sign the death warrant. The prisoner entered his 'tomb-like: cell in September 1, 1876, and it was not until 1917 that he was allowed to eat in company with other convicts or ito attend religious services, and entertainments in gaol. His four decade o of solitary 'imprisonment were imposed because of' twelve desperate attempts lie made to escape.

'Pomeroy's petitions for pardon were refused by Governor after Governor, and the only glimpse he ever hnd of the outside world came when he was transported from one prison to.another three years ago. ■This man’s extraordinary *fate has aroused diseussinn as to 'whether his execution 56 years ago 'would not have been ’. more- humane than commutation f the sentence to this protracted tor-: ture of a living death.