Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-10-30
ASHAMED OF HISRACE.
Judge McClung's Caustic Criticism Of
q Very Negligent Son.
Run DOWN By AN ELECTRIC CAR.
Bradford Gets the Extreme Punishment
for Manslaughter.
THE NEWS OF THE COUNTY COURTS

sThis case is enough to make . man
ashamed of the race to which he belongs" +"
said Judge McClung in the Criminal Court
yesterday during the hearing of Lawrence
Cullen, who was required to appear upon q
rule granted to Elizabeth Smith to show
cause why he should not support his aged
and infrmed father and mother.
Elizabeth Smith said that MI. and Mrs
Cullen were 81 and IS years of age respec-
lively; that they were invalids and had to
support them herself She said that tho
old couple spent great deal of their time
during the last six years in the poorhouse.
Mrs. Smith said it worried her good deal
to have the old people there, so whenever
she was able she had them come and live
with her. These periods varied from four
to six months, until during the last Is
months she has had the constant care and
support of her grandparents at her home,
105 Webster avenue. During this time
Mrs Smith stated that Lawrence Cullen,
although he told her he was earning SO q
day, never contributed anything to the
support of his parents, except in May,
when he gave them $50, and in July, when
they received S25 from him.
Defining His Average Earnings.
Lawrence Cullen told virtually the same
story except as to the amount of money he
earned. He said at first that he earned
from 81 to $40 per week, but upon being
questioned by the Judge if he thought that
was a fair average for glass worker to earn,
he said: 'That's what I've made in the
last two weeks"
st don't want you to state what you have
made in the last two weeks, but tell what
would be fair average of your earnings" I"
said the Judge.
"Wy don't you tell the Court that you
make $40 month as your employer told
me Yesterday" broke in j. Z. P. Duff, at
torney for Mrs. Smith.
sT don't make that" replied Cullen, and
after some wrangling with the opposing
lawyer he finally said he made on an aver
age $120 per month, but was only em-
ployed eight months during the year. as the
glass works, at which trade he works, al
ways close down in summer. He further
claimed he had asked the old people to
come and live with him and he would take
cake of them.
Old Mr. Cullen said his boy at one time
lived with him on the Southside, and upon
one occasion, about siA years ago, when the
old man was very ill and thought he was
about to die, he decided over the little
property he had, valued at $1,000, to his
son, Lawrence. He said Lawrence took
the property and sold it and never made q
return of cent to his old father or mother.
Plain Speech From the Bench.
Judge McClung turned to Lawrence Gull
lan nd ra
fathers only property and keeping the
money for yourself, allowed these aged peo-
pie to be sent to the Poor Farm"
Cullen protested that he did not know
they were in the poorhouse, and further
averred that he sold the place for $3.50 and
his parents told him to keep the money if
it would do him any good.
Lawrence Cullen's wife was then exam
ined. She said that she was sure that her
husband did not know of his parents being
in the poorhouse. She stated they lived in
Bellaire, O., until recently, when they
moved to Blair's station. About four years
ago, before they we're married, she said they
sent a letter and an invitation to the we'd
ding to the old folks, but never got any re-
ply. They afterward found letter from
them which had gone to the Dead Letter
Office.
After this testimony had been given,
Judge McClung said: 'Taking for granted
everything that the defendant says, make
an order that Lawrence Cullen shall pay
S25 per month to the support of his father
and mother"
At this point the younger Mrs Cullen
turned to the Judge and said: "There is a
stepson of Grandfather Cullen, son of
GRANDFATHER Cullen, named Jack Harrison,
who makes good money as mine inspector
up the river"
"Well," replied the Judge, 'T will be
GLAD to obtain the names Of any others who
should contribute to the old couples sup
port, for should like to have the amount
increased"