The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-08-26

The mother of George Washington
Ludlum, the 17-year-old boy who since
June II has been a prisoner at the
county jail awaiting trial for stealing
a bicycle arrived in the city last even
ing. Her mission is to secure her sons
release.
The woman has no money; her
weapons are simply words and actions,
and with these she hopes to pierce the
tough hide of Justice, aided and abet-
ted by the power of her mother love.
With Mrs. Ludlum in the police station
last night was another of her sons,
Colonel Wellington Ludlum, age
years, and as bright as a new button.
They came all the way from Butler
town. near Paterson, N. j., where Mrs.
Ludlum, who is a widow, ekes out a
living over the wash-tub.
The story of young Ludlum's offense
will be remembered. A few days be-
fore June II the boy appeared in the
city and applied at the Associated
Board of charity rooms to Mrs. w. B.
Duggan, agent, for work. He was
given his dinner and a deal of encour-
agement Curiously enough he dis
appeared from the city.
BICYCLE WENT WITH HIM.
The same day that young Ludlum
went away Albert Henne, of the West
Side, had a Stearns bicycle stolen from
in front of the City Hall. Mrs. Dug
gan then informed the police author
tiles of the sudden disappearance of
young Ludlum.
Chief of Police Robling sent dis
| patches to the cities along the roads
a, ;1rl,N to1y a,,I 1nn
ing that a boy on a Stearns' yellow
Fellow" the name of the wheel, had
| passed through Elmhurst, word was
| sent to Stroudsburg to arrest the run
| away.
The stroudsburg police easily cap
| tured young Ludlum when he reached
| that city after a continuous ride of over
| seventy miles and a message announc-
| ing the arrest was sent to this city.
Detective John Moir was sent to
Stroudsburg with the necessary war;
rant. Meanwhile Mr.. Henne had ap-
peared before Alderman Millar and an
other warrant was sworn out. This
latter paper was placed in the hands
of Detective Charles Silverburgh, who
also left for Stroudsburg. Silverburgh
| arrived a few hours before Detective
Moir. The latter did not know of the
Alderman Millar's messenger until he
reached Stroudsburg and found that
Silverburgh had started with young
Ludlum for this city.
Ludlum was formally placed under
5000 bail by Alderman Millar and in de-
| fault was sent to the county Jail. AS
| may be cpnjectured from the proceed
ing the costs of the case have already
aggregated the price of a good bicycle.
..' SON PLEADED FOR HELP.
This is what Mrs. Ludlum has to con-
tend with. She first learned of her
sons plight through Mrs. Duggan and
young Ludlum himself wrote her a
tear-stained letter. asking her to come
and help him. The boy also sent sew
eral very touching appeals to Mrs.
Duggan.
The result Is the appearance of Mrs
Ludlum last night. Upon her arrival
she looked UP Mrs. Duggan and the
charity agent secured sleeping apart
ments for her and the S-year-old sor
in a central city boarding house. Ar
effort will now be started to have the
costs in the case withdrawn. 1t may
be a task that even Colonel yelling.
ton himself cannot master.
| II is Known tndt tne county COmmlS-
soners and the Jail authorities have
consented to sacrifice their fees, but
there yet remains the city police de.
partment, Detectives Moir and Silver.
burg, Alderman Millar with bills Dor,
dering on $40. Worse than all, Mr.
Henne, it is said, is determined upor
! prosecuting young Ludlum.
The case Is scheduled for a hearinf
before the September grand jury TIL,
mother of young Ludium appears t
be a worthy woman. Her S-year-olC
son, Colonel Wellington, is a wonder
In the police station last night he saiC
/ all manner of bright things and sagel!
, expressed himself as being "ashameC
: of WASH" as he calls the prisoner
) Said Colonel wellington: II dom
know how he ever come to do 1t. He
: a Christian Endeavor and always
good boy" Turning to Chief Robling
( "Ye see, me and Wash have two dogs
Do you know, l take just as much car
| OF 'Wash's' dog as I do of my owr
= He ought to be ashamed to do such
I thing to his mother" concluded tn
= little chap.