The morning call., 1893-10-07
/, ..A.HEARTLESS SON,
Henry Macdonald and His
=, Poor Mother.
UNWILLING TO SUPPORT HER.
The illegitimate Child of Captain Mac
donald Makes an Exhibition of
Himself in Court.

No more clearly defined instance OF
sons ingratitude for mothers self-sacri-
nee could possibly be shown than ID ascene
that was enacted yesterday afternoon IN
Judge Coffey's courtroom.
The principal figure In the melancholy
event was young Henry Macdonald. the
illegitimate son of the late Captain c. E.
S. Macdonald, who, through the testimony
of his mother, Mrs. Anna Ransome, for
merly known as Claude Lee. was recently
adjudged heir to the Macdonald estate.
Judge Cotfey had decided in his favor, and
there is littledoubt that all litigation would
have speedily come to an end. but eventu-
ally a compr6miSe was effected with the
other heirs whereby division was made
OF the estate valued at over 100000, young
Henry, now called Macdonald. taking half.
while the next of kin secured the re-
mainder. 1t had been long and tiresome
litigation, and counsels' fees in the case
were extremely heavy; consequently the
estate became very much impoverished,
ana young Macdonald instead Of receiving
SEINE $4,000 as his share finds himself to.
day, at nearly 20 years of age, heir TO
$50. GOO. of which $4,000 is snugly de-
posted in the bank to MS credit
=. Henry has led a somewhat rough life
for lad of his years. He has been to sea
before the mast, has been apprenticed to
the trade OF an irOnmolder, and has alEo-
gether learned to take care of himself. lie
has OF late resided with his maternal
grandmother, to whom an allowance Of
$50 a month out of the estate was made for
her support and his. Yet, for all this
early training, few were prepared for such
an exhibition of unfllial conduct as was
displayed yesterday IN open court by this
beGrdless youth.
The matter before the court was the
question of an increase of the family al
lowance to be made, in order TO allow the
buys mother to reside with Henry and
his grandmother, the proposed addition
to the household being likely TO incur
further expense.
;: J:~D. Sullivan represented the mother.
and. openly stated in court that he was
there without fee, and merely from old as
:sociaton, added to his strong feeling that
JUSTICE should be done to the woman, TO
whom the lad Henry owed so much.
{: Z. Henry Macdonald was put on the wit
ness-s stand, and at first certain questions
We're asked him regarding his future. To
AL such questions ne returned very unsat-
answers. he did pot want to go
TO school; he did not want TO be interfered
with in: any way. His sole desire seemed
to De that he should be allowed to do as
.he:pleased, without thought for bis en-
JghtenmeDt or advancement in any way
whatever.
"a ,hen-came the question of an allowance
Tor -hif mother.
,;.<' How much have you TO your credit in
tfebank?" asked Judge Coffey.
-: ~ hey, tell me from $4,000 to S24, ,000."
answered the boy.
:2AreYou willing to,make some provision
46T your moth6T?"
49,: Dead silence. The boy hung his head,
.lnlrs. .r,c rtr-7 4 T.
looked surprised and little grieved.
*D0:you not want your mother to live?'
neGfiaked.
;.::'!+@ell, wouldn't want 20 give her but
Just ffsugh, was the sulien answer.
:IeR me-" persisted Judge Coffey,
E'vglfat lall owance would you be willing to
nlak ke. to- your mother, so that she might be
KEEP tfT0m want?"
Henry looked sullen and forbidding, and
IL WAS not until the question had been
pTessed.bY both counsel and Judge that he
was: beard to say: II didn't want to give
her. no allowance. I'd rather give her
$1,000 and, let her CO."
=. AT each answer, given with such an evil
dent. absence of feeling, the poor mother
grleyeaa laid her head upon her hands.
But.a this last answer she murmured, "Is
7 Ills File. boy for whom | did so much 2"
u: D.. Sullivan heard the words and he
spoke. In feeling terms he addressed the
60 GEt anu suggested ID2l lew women 0aQ
done. what this woman had for her boy.
and. was she to receive no return for it all?
- Judge Coffey replied that none knew
better than he the circumstances of the
case: She had, indeed, sacrificed much,
and all he. hoped was that she had not
SACRIFICED the truth. Yet, hard as it might
seem,: the mother had 10 legal claim on
h&T~s0n Then, turning to the boy, VINO
sat. there seemingly unabashed, the Judge
as ked, him if be wonld be willing that his
prDther. should reside with him and his
gyar&dih other.
''Yes,.2 was the answer. 3"but if she
cQiaes; III CO."
: The Jndge suggested that Henry aid not
seeIl:rto have much affection for his
mother, .and-certainly not as much as he
:apIeared to have when his claim for in
heTitance was before the court, but the
boy replied calmly that he didn't have
mpchtthen.''
You. at all events. simulated it very
Welf,' was Judge Coffey's only remark,
and seeming rather tired of the whole
nfarter he continued it for one week.
1ATnnNI OE THE ~rrrxZ