The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1880-01-07
TWO STORIES OF CHRISTMAS.
Two Fathers who Stole to Buy Food For
Their Children.
INaw York Snn.1

Their Children.
New York SUM-
A policeman saw a man break the show
window OF James Jennings 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 glistenlDg
pieces of metal, hid them under his tightly
buttoned coat, and walked swift down
Sixth avenue. At Twenty-sixth street the
policeman arrested him, and took him 10
the Thirtle \ street police station. There
he gave the name of James Smith, of 172
Mulberry street. The policeman took six
brass faucets, worth about $12, from under
his coat. The coat was thin and much worn,
and Smith had nc overcoat. bis pockets
were empty. He was locked up for several
hours and then taken to the Jefferson Mar
ket police court. On the way to and in
court be maintained the silence that he had
broken only to give the name and address
| that he claimed. He was arIaigned before
Justice Flammer the charge of burglary was
made and an affidavit was drawn up but he
was silent Justice Flammer said, hastily
writing his name at the end of the commit
ment, Committed to answer in the general
sessions, in default OF 81 900 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
/
/ in the court room heard him.
"My poor wife, my poor boy" he cried.
| They are starving"
Justice Flammer heard his cry and said:
Officers. bring that man 10 the bar again"
The officers obeyed, end Smith, still
weeping, stood before Justice Hammer.
MY wife and child, judge" he said, faro
at home without a morsel of food. left
them this morning to get something for
them to est and / could not. In despera-
ton, judge, / broke that window, and stole
the faucets. ! wanted to pawn them for
bread"
Justice Flammer told Policeman McSally
to go to the house at 172 Mulberry street,
and ascertain whsther Smith told the truth.
| McSally took Smith with him. When they
reached Mulberry street, Smith said:
"Officer, / wanted to keep my real name e
secret. 1 supposed that L would have to go
to State prison, anyway, and determined 10
go with my mouth firmly closed. But when
| thought Of going to prison, perhaps for
years, and leaving my wife and child desti-
tute, broke down. / want to tell you now
that my real names is James Howsr1"
The policeman and Howard climbed the
outside iron stairway of the rear tenement at
172. 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 no fire in the stove, and the rooc4
was very cold At the sound OF the mems
voices boy came from the inner room. He
spraDg, with cry % JOY into his fathers
arms. Then he led his father to the inner
room where his mother lay. The meeting
between the husband and wife was touch
ing. Part OF loaf of bread was all the food
in the rooms. This and some milk. the boy
said a neighbor gave him for his sick mother
and himself. The neighbors said that the
Towards have borne an excellent repute.
Then the policeman aud Howard started to
return
In the street they met an agent for the
Society for the improvement of the Condi
tIoa of the Poor who furnished Mrs. How
ard with little food and some fuel. When
Justice Flammer reopened court, the police
man who had been with Howard reported to
him, and he said he would send letter to
District Attorney Phelps concerning the
facts in Towards case, and he doubted
whether the grand jury would indict him.
Howard was visited in bis cell yesterday.
He said that he is an American; tbs he is a
carpenter, and he lost his place through
sickness, and had been unable to get work
since. He said that be had pawned his tools
and everything of value that he possessed.
and that when he broke the window and
stole the faucets he was out In search of food
for his starving family, and hardly knew
what he did.
Mrs. Howard sat over a struggling little
fire when the reporter entered her rooms,
last evening. She was wan and very weak.
But she said, with an attempt to appear
cheerful, that she thought she would be-
come strong again il she could obtain nour-
ishing food, though her cough does trouble
her night ana day, and she has had hem.
orrhages. She asked over and over again
when, in the reporters opinion, her husband
would be allowed to return TO her.
When the reporter told her that her hus-
band may not be discharged, if he is dis
] Lob rod he A -
on the 9th of January, she was saddened.
ooh, sir" she said, ''if the judges and the
police officers only knew how we have suf-
fsred all these terrible months, they would
not be hard to him. He has been kind
husband and father, and he has always been
willing to work. IL the judges would only
let him 60 now and give him any kind OF
did wrong before, sir. and l am sure he was
. not in his right mind when he did this.
SAD STORY.
, BALTIMORE, Dec 20 The death by starva-
ton and neglect of three young children on
Christmas night was brought to light here
to- day through the sad story of John K
J Simpson, who was arrested for stealing
number of hatirons from q woman in the
, northwestern section of the city. The man
|, who was in the last stages of consump tion
and seemed TO be completely Frustrated
told the following terrible tale OF suffering
all the circumstances of which have beer
carefully verified by the police. He said
that he had been out of work for months
His three young children fell sick when hs
had not the means of providing for them,
and he was compelled to listen to their pite
Gus cries for food. Driven to despair
Christmas night by the suffering
OF the little ones, he rushed
! from his miserable home, entered the housl
! of the woman and stole the irons. which h'
sold to get medicine and food for the sicl
children. All three since died, their death
without doubt, being brought on by expos
! ure and the want of ordinary food and med
icine. The father, who was himself almos
Frustrated from hunger, was committed 70
the action OF the grand jury. which at leas
insuTes his being taken care of for the pres
ent. The woman from whom the irons wer
taken, with astonishing want of humanity
Is determined to prosecute the unfortunat.
) man, although he went 70 her after the dealt
Of bis children and before she discovered hi
! crime, and confessed his guilt, promising Il
! make restitution.