St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1889-08-03
DEATHSOBERED HIM.
A Sad Scene in the Desolate Home
of Drunkard-Baby Died OF

A Sad Scene in the DeSolate Home
of a Drunkard-Baby Died of
Starvation.
New York Star.
Thomas Cavanagh, a janitor, of No.
423 Greenwich street, was yesterday
morning prisoner in the Tombs police
court, charged with being an habitual
drunkard. Such cases are not uncom-
mon in that temple of justice, yet Cava-
nagh'S case was peculiarly sad one.
His wife. who has grown prematurely
old, while retaining traces of former
beauty, was the complainant.
Cavanagh leaned dejecteely against
the bar as she told her pitiable story.
They had married years ago. and of the
union five children were then alive.
The youngest was a boy of six months.
Her husband, she said, had been
model one until two years ago, when he
took to drink. Since that time ne has
been going steadily down hill. Every
dollar that he could lay his hands upon
went the same way-tO the liquor store.
Her children were starving. Not a
particle of food had been in the rouse
for two days, nor did she know where
the next days meal would come from.
kllC mig III UC quiz ~ SCt ny lSl"
self, but her husband swallowed up her
small earnings, and she wanted him put
away.
Not to get rid of him." she said to
Justice Hogan, as the tears cOursed
down her cheeks; ''it is only to save
him from himself and give him chance
to be as good man to me as he was long
ago"
Her request was granted. The hus-
band was committed. and, for time at
least. the wife was rid of him. Still
weeping, she sought her home. There
she found the cup of misery complete.
The six-months-old babe she had left
behind while going to prosecute the
husband had died. 1t had persisted
from starvation, as the unfortunate
woman was too weak to give it proper
nourishment. She clasped the cold
form in her arms, and, as she recog
nized that her babe was dead, sank eX
hausted on the bare floor.
Mrs Cavanaugh had been followed
from the court by Officer Becker of the
chiIdrens society. When he entered
There was scarcely any furniture in
che room, but every thing was neat and
clean.
Huddled together in one corner of
the room were the other four children.
Starvation was plainly pictured on each
wan face. When the society's agent
entered, they stared at him as if he
were an intruder, and huddled closer
together.
Agent Becker summoned assistance,
and the poor woman soon revived.
Then he sent for food, and the children
ate rauenously, but the mother could
not. She still clasped the dead child in
her arms. She thanked the agent fer
vently, but conveyed word of mean
ing in these few words:
you have saved four of my children,
but relief has come too late for my boy.
He is dead.
Telling her that the society would
look after the children, the agent made
his way back to the police court. Then,
by advice of Mrs. Cavanagh, he asked
that her husband be released. The
facts of the case were stated to Justice
Hogan, and he ordered that Cavanagh
be brought up from the cells. When
the latter heard that his child was dead
he appeared to feel it keenly. He was
counseled to lead better life, and, after
being told that it was his last chance, he
was allowed to go home. The scene at
the latter place s0bered him.