The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-12-23
HIS MOTHERS APPEALS.
Touching Letters Written On Her
Deathbed in Germany.
r Z FORMED AT LAST
Starving, But Steadfast He Finds Friend
in Justice Otterbourg.

tehce or one sinner and that angels gorify Him VINO
gave redemption to the world. All men. even the
worst are filled with satisfaction when they hear
that hitherto deemed irreclaimable has
done something noble for human nature, weak
though it may be. is not altogether bad. 1t has
chords that can be touched by goodness and i'm
pulses that be awakened by generosity. SO,
therefore, hundreds of hearts Will beat quicker and
many eyes well tears over the following recital of a
mothers love and her erring sons repentance;-
One Saturday morning about two weeks ago
youth. tall and taciturn stood in rags before Judge
Otterbourg at Jefferson Market Police Court. The
charge against the prisoner Simply stated by the
officer who had arrested him. His name Charles
Fisher lie ex-convict. only two months
down from Sing Sing, and he had just committed an
other Illegal act-he had smashed a.pane of glass
Broadway on the previous night. rs the business
Of the court heavy that morning the officers who
regarded the case of ordinary interest hurried
Fisher before the Judge and expected that he would
be disposed of Immediately. The magistrate exam
ined the complaint against the youth and raising
his eyes. scanned him.from top to toe sharply.
"You broke glass .eh?' observed the Judge. look
ing straight at Fisher,over his specaclas
II did SIR"
"Why did you do~it ?"
THAT might be arrested"
"What did you:want to be arrested for?,
work nor food"
You're all ex-convict; why didn't you:steal?"
Because Lpromised my mother. who>is dead. that
when got ont of Sing Sing would lead an honest
life and steal again
To put it mildly, the Court was silenced for the
moment.
"what do you want me to do with you? dhe maes-
trate asked in low tone, taking off his ~spectacles
and leaning overthe desk.
'Givc me place to sleep and some food" All this
was said by the prisoner in castiron sorsof way.
There was no acting attempt to conceal emotion.
In fact no emotion was visible
He sentinto the jefferson Market prison, His
confession taken, and he became the ward OF ~the
Commissioners of Charities and Correction.
PROBLEM SOLVED.
Judge Otterbourg left the bench next day. for the
ensuing week was his own. SO Charles Fisher went
down in the abyss that yawns for the reception of
criminals at the bar Of the police court and for
gotten by all but the magistrate. On the following
Monday HERALD reporter santering through
the prison when he Judge Otterbourg in earnest
conversation with Fisher. Keeper McDermott stood
by and heard what was going forward. Tie Judge
related it TO the HERALD rcportcrafterward.
NOW Fisher said the magistrate, ''you-told mo
Saturday that in consequence of promise given
to your dying mother you would not steal, but pre-
ferring to sarve had almost done so when despair
drove you to break that glass and throw yourself
once more into the hands Off the police. Is this
really true?
1T is. Your Honor"
"Can you prove this to mey
'Ican."
"HowT'
II have letters from folks at my last boarding or
lodging place. in Pitt street. They in box. tied
together, and if only get them they will tell
you all you want to know about me-
Write for them and have.them sent to me-
II have no money to purchase paper stamp
The Judge took out two dollar bill to give him..
After he handed it to Fisher he remembered that the
young fellow was not prisoner. He simply
subcommittee to the Comm nsioners Of Charity
why cannot this chap 90 out and bring the let
tors and proofs OF his truthfulncss himsef?" said
the magistrate to the ksepcryin whisper.
Hes got your 81 now. replied the latter. "snd
might not return"
That shall BIO the test" hastily rcioned the
Judge Then turning to Fisher. he added. "I'l let
Won go for those letters Yourself Takp the money
with you and bring back your box"
Not another word passed between the parties that
day. Charles Fisher went Pitt street. brought las
letters back and himsefup to the keepers ut the
prison again. He did not see Judge Otterbourg for
two days. When he did he turned him the,
package Of old epstles, stained by tears and me and
rendered an account of what he hadrdone with the
money intrusted to him.
During the two weeks which have elapsed SINCE
that time the has been working hard in the
r, 'a y. g nus state
ponitcnt or only shammng for base purposes Tho
first step taken was to read the correspondents and
inquire into the early history.of the subject. The
Judge accordingly sent for him and asked him to
write brief sketch OF his carcer and he.id so scx
ing only to those things which would paint him in
his true colors and deceive nobody with claims good
qualities which might be fosl wanting in him
hereafter. Hero is what no penncd for Judge Otter
bosrg:-
SnwYonx- Doc, IS. 1878
my life. / WAS barn in March 1855. in Germany when
ye m e az, was ss9 s. TO pse sso and
father gave nc lessons in Latin. When left the public
f fSS years and wo sas there Sssrsnr sT
cean WIN about sN'y oincss ~ iour O'Clock
asa.
pss to like
Higher 'v class S IN so but tailed being n,Ssisssca the
ns before s made L., Ny fa,h, woaa no. e ne I"
wsy S s sysrA p. s ns wS sent sn
o but from w me e I've n, s .
county doctor and there Won't every sunday 4 stole :,
. ssS Ss Me- Ia a,.:ssss hs N
Sessa me up t.f some week. N my room WIN .sas
,hsa . friend = 81; wholesale drasAi Theirs
ss !. "a
other way get it, of my work deliver aud
receive tho mail csshed different money orars tho
amount always being between $40 aud So was Affected
after months stealing and sont home my,aihcr.
Whom arrived ut home astonished to my ,thers
face calm but icy Next day he told that giving tn
the United States, although mother and the OF
relatives against It. As a. evcuhirps was
dy tor departure lie took Bremen and puttnne
board Of slr lie 800 II did not take mo long
ind those fire. places along tho Bowery and
Chatham There sde the hieocs
and fcriacs very seldom stole with them. but
all alone until my aud the iioisc
ot Refuge stopped rather suddenly After rssvne one
half discharged. Having behaved myself
very badly had quite reputation among the young
thieves Of New York was out only month aad
mtneed tho old again stole sniiy from
October I.a, till october 1875 and acrx 6rst
TN the 9th of October 1874, l arrested
for grand larceny, pleaded guilty and
State Prison iMl
! took IL easy any ~pryd tnko IT, 1sp
months behaved n,seif haaly peing purts,ci less
Ave times In three months When re,ssrcd letters
FROM home aud heard that my mother was dyng was