The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1901-12-10
ABIRTHDAYPRESENT
THE GIFT THAT A JUDGE GAVE tn
A BORROWING MOTHER.

| a story OF the FAMOUS hecOrGeP,
Frederick Smyth, Who, on the
Criminal Bench of New York City,
Was a Terrpr to the EvildOers.
Few men were better known to New
Yorkers than Frederick Smyth who
when recorder was the terror of evildoers,
sometimes thought severe in his penal
ties, but cautious and just in his deci-
sions. The seeming stern side of his ma
| ture was turned outward, but friends who
| knew him well knew also that there was
soft side, and in social life and at his
| Office he loved joke, could give and take
and was always fond of reciting events
in which he and John McKeon, his law
partner, were actors. did you see an
old Irish woman waiting as you came
imp he asked one day of the writer. "She
is as steady a visitor as an anxious client.
| There's a story about that woman, and
I'll give it to you. It's like ticket of
leave man story, and there's almost a
living Bob Briefly up at Sing Sing"
A low knock upon the panel of the
open door interrupted the telling, and the
woman herself stood meekly before him.
"You here again?" said the recorder,
assuming the countenance that gave no
hope did you see that bad boy of
yours"
"Yis, sir, an he isn't a bad boy, yer
honor, an he tould me to tell We so.
That's all l came for, yer honor, an to
gin We this"
She thrust a paper into his hand,
bowed low and walked silently and
slowly to the outer Office, turned a Sec
ond at the door, made an obeisance and
disappeared.
LETS read it." said Smyth, turning
the paper over. 81 suppose it is the same
thing he often sends to me-" And then he
slowly read, you are good to my mother,
and l thank you with my whole heart"
"You see, the boy doesn't make any ap-
peal this time. He has made many, and
I'm sorry for him. Bad company did it.
He was accomplice in a burglary. | think
they frightened him. But he was caught,
circumstantial evidence strong, and he's
doing his term. The mothers poor-has
a daughter that earns a little-and a
friend of mine gives her money every
once in awhile from little fund I've put
up to help her. She'll come here twice
week, and when she goes up to Sing Sing
to see the boy pay her fare. The re
ports from the prison show the boy is
earning time from his sentence. She says
it's the boys birthday on Saturday, and
I'll have to make her a present for him,
l suppose. Come in Saturday about 2
o'clock, and I'll show it to YOU
He turned to some law papers, and the
interview ended. Prompt on time the
writer called at the time named to find
the woman waiting in the outer Office and
Smyth's private room apparently closed.
"Come in quickp' sounded from within
in answer to a knock authorized by the
clerk outside.
'She's there, isn't she?" asked Smyth
as he shook hands and pushed chair be-
side the desk. 'I've got the present for
her, anyway, so tell her to come i'm
Not a word was said as she slowly
came forward, and then in his cold, calm
voice Smyth placed a chair facing the
window and told her to sit down. In a
bewildered way she did so.
"Now look right over that park while
I'm talking to you and don't turn your
head" was spoken in the voice that so
many had heard from the desk in the
courtroom. do you think your boy was
guilty?"
Eyes, your honor but he only kept
watch for the others. He knows now
what it is to be out wild the boys an get
into throuble. But he's doin' his time, yer
honor, an thryin' fer good conduct, an he
prays every night to find me an the sis
Their all right when he comes out. It's
hard lesson, yer honor, but he's farnin' it
well-l'arnin' it well"
While she was speaking Smyth had
opened closet door next the bookcases
and led into the room a sad faced boy
and held him back of him, the tall form
of the recorder shielding him from view.
81 told you not to look from over the
park Now you can look at me-" said
Smyth, with voice that was emotional
ly low. "I've made you a birthday pres
ent. Take care of it now you've got it.
The scene was more than pathetic. 1t
was page of real life, and with the rev.
erence of religion the mother clasped the
boy and then, falling upon her knees,
looked up silently at the recorder.
"Don't thank me. The governor par
doned him, and he came down the river
this morning. Both of you go to the holy
father of your church. Let the boy swear
to lead an honest life, and here's some
thing to start it with"
A bank note already rolled into ball
and held in his left hand was given to the
woman. Smyth motioned for silence and
then, showing mother and son to the outer
door, said slowly: Don't make a scene.
Nobody knows the boys done time. Keep
his hat down close upon his head-the
hair'll soon grow out-and go straight to
the church Do you mind me|'
Then as he closed the door and return
ed to his desk he said: "You see the
judge in court and the man in the office.
l hated to sentence him. You've seen
something worth remembering today, and
if it wasn't for some of the good things
we can do for others life would be a hard
session, without a recess. New York
Times.