Cupld's Mysterious Way.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVI, Issue 5, 7 January 1904, Page 4

Cupld's Mysterious Way.

POSSIBLE SUSPENSION OF A I'UISON SENTENCE. Cleveland, Ohio, Nov. 20. A romance develoiK'd in the county gaol, if the case, which is a pitiful one, can really be called a romance. Mrs Anna Haslam, who in August had her sight destroyed by vitriol thrown by L. Peter McCarty, has agreed to marry the man who, by has own confession, has hopelessly mjured her for life. McCarty, when charged before before Judge Stone, changed his plea to one O'f guilty, after a spiritless effort to prove that the throwing of the acid was accidental. He is in gaol awaiting sentence. The crime he committed is considered a serious one, for which the law provides a sentence of not less than three years in the penitentiary. The maximum penalty is a life sentence.

The fear of a sentence which would confine him at hard labdur for all—or nearly all—of his natural life and the helplessness of the woman he has blinded are believed to have more to do with the proposal match than sentiment. ICcCarty declares, however, that he is seriously desirous of making restitution in tihe only way possible to 'hum for tihe wrong be has demo the woman. And Sirs Haslam, aside from the fact that she is almost helpless, with a ten-year-old child to rear, 'and is dependent upon relatives who are not able to cure for her, declares she is willing to forgive McCarty for disfiguring her Km) and destroying her sight. McCarty proposed marriage in a letter to Mrs Haalani. He said lie wanted to do all that he could to mitigate the wrong he had done tier arid asfad whether she would cpnsMer a proposition from him to take care of her and the child as her husband if the opportunity were granted nim by the court. She repl.Vd that she would be glad to talk the matter ewer with him.

Mrs Haslam came to the county gaol arid was granted an interview wath McCarty. The helpless woman was led through the corridor by a deputy sheriff and was left alone with the prisoner. Then, seated, together in the cheerless eel! tl , e two agreed to forget the past ' and hve the rest of their lives together gave tho necessary permission McCarty promised to be a «w»i WtWul hjurband ; to care * o fi *or bis blind wife and her I uie **#*«-. The woman forgave h m ****. and promised to do al n her p<*ver to indure the j u L to wtfl she came from tbe „ "««■ Haslam looked haimi.... tiT mao s , TOte , lluw,,l ' , th an for