In the lore that is early Nebraska history, on the night of November 21, 1866, in a grocery store owned by Will King in Omaha, Woolsey Higgins locked up $1,500 in the store’s safe. That was a lot of money in those days since the entire budget of Mercy Hospital (also known as St. Joseph) was $15,000.
To the store’s newly-hired clerk, Otway Baker, this amount of money was too much to pass up. As he and Woolsey slept in the back of the store, he waited until Woolsey was fast asleep. It was then that he bludgeoned the poor bookkeeper in the head, stole the money, burned the store in the attempt to cover his crime, and buried the money in an oyster can under the wooden sidewalk. He was promptly arrested and convicted for the crime and sentenced to death by hanging.
Soon after his arrest, the Sisters of Mercy started visiting him. At first he resisted their entreaties, but later surrendered to the all merciful God and requested a priest.
After some brief instructions, while the gibbet was being prepared for his hanging, he was baptized by Father Patrick Egan of St. Phenomena. He was even able to assist several times at Mass that was offered by Father Egan at the jail.
On February, 14, 1868, he was hanged for his crime. He also, before his death, made a public confession and revealed the location of the hidden loot.
As we meditate on the coming of the Christ Child to us at Christmas, let us be reminded that He came to set us all free.
Remember the words of Simeon as he held the Christ Child in his hands, “Mine eyes have seen the salvation which thou hast prepared in the presence of all peoples, a light for the revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory to thy people Israel” (Lk 2:30-32).
As Jesus Himself started His public ministry He said, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me ... He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives” (Lk 4:18). Yes… Jesus, by His Incarnation, death and resurrection, has come to free us from the slavery of sin and death.
During this most holy time of year, please pray for the conversion of sinners and for our various ministries at CSS- including our prison ministry, where by the grace of God, conversions like the one described above continue to occur.
Thank you for your love and support and remember, we at Catholic Social Services are praying for you. Have a blessed and merry Christmas!
