Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1880-01-08
TWO STORIES OF CHRISTMAS.
Two Fathers who Stole to Buy Food
For Their Children.

New York Sun Dec. 81.

A policeman saw q man break the
show window in James Fleming's
plumbing store at 26 west twenty.
seventh street. early on Christmas
morning. Plunging his right hand
through the opening in the broken
pane the man drew out some glis-
tening pieces of metal, hid them I'm.
der his tightly. buttoned coat and
walked swiftly down Sixth avenue.
At twenty sixth street the polics>
man arrested him and took him 10
the Thirtieth Street Police Station.
There he gave the name of James
Smith of 172 Mulberry Street. The
policeman took six brass faucets,
worth about twelve dollars from un-
der his coat. The coat was worn
and thin and Smith had no overcoat.
His pockets were empty. He was
locked up for several hours and then
taken to the Jefferson Marke. Po-
lice Court. On the way to and in
court he maintained the silence that
he had broken only to tell the name
and address that he claimed. He
was arraigned before Justice Flam.
mer, the charge of burglary was
made, and an affidavit was drawn
up but he was silent. Justice Flam-
mer said, hastily writing bis name
at the end of the commitment.
"Committed to answer in the GEN.
eral Sessions in default of $1,000
bail. Take him back"
A policeman led Smith from the
bar. As he was on the threshold of
the door leading into the prison,
Smith, covering his face with his
hands, wept and sobbed so that all in
the court room heard him.
"My poor wife, my poor boy" be
cried. "They are starving"
Justice Blammer heard his cry,
and said: Officers, bring that man to
the bar again."
The officers opeyed, and Smith,
still weeping, stood before Justice
FIammer.
"My wife and child, Judge" he
said, are at home without a morsel
of food. l left them this morning
to get something for them to eat,
and l could not. In desperation,
Judge. | broke that wiHdow and
stole the faucets. [ wanted to pawn
them for bread"
Justice Hammer told Policeman
McSally to go to the house at 172
Mulberry street, and ascertain wheth-
err Smith told the truth. McSally
took Smith with him. When they
reached Mulberry street, Smith said:
"Officer,I wanted to keep my real
name secret. l supposed that |
would have to go to State Prison
anyway, and | determined to 90
with my mouth firmly closed. But
when ! thought of going to prison,
perhaps for years and leaving my
wife and child destitute, I broke
down. / want to tell you now tina,
my real name is James Howard"
The policeman and Howard
climbed the Outside stairway OF the
rear tenement at l72. In two bare
rooms on the top floor, Howard said
his wife and child were. But no one
was in the outer room, the kitchen
There was 40 fire in the stove, and
the room was very cold. At the
sound of mems voices, boy came
from the inner room. He sprang
with cry of joy into bis fathers
arms. Then he led his father to the
inner room, where his mother lay
The meeting between the husband
and wife was touching. Part Of {
loaf of bread was all the food in ths
rooms. This and some milk, the boy
said. neighbor gave him for bis sicl
mother and himself. The neigh
bors said that the Towards hav,
borne an excellent repute. Then th,
policeman and Howard started Il
return.