The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-09-05


9 was arrested. 3
s9~>s@@@3s@e*a@.eas.ss%%@H.e@~S@@
New York. Sept 5.--Just a chance word
Of thanks and now all John B. Hen
drickson's dreams OF happiness after his
term in Sing Sing prison are ended. He
was arrested yesterday on his car on the
Bergen street line. Brooklyn. charged
with violating the section OF the Penal
Code which prohibits persons getting en-
pioyment under an assumed name or by
false pretenses.
How could help IT," he sobbed. as
they led him away to Raymond street
jail. Il had wife and two babies to
support, and knew I could never get
work with my right name"
The chance word that ended all the
happiness for husband. wife and two ba-
bies was spoken to ex-Judge w. b. Hurd.
Jr.. who retired from the bench In jan
uary last 1t was he who gave Hendrick-
son eighteen months In states prison for
swindling.
The tears OF the wife and the prisoner 8
distress at her suffering got him OF with
a light sentence. The man had nearly
ruined John Albertson, OF 21s Dearaw
street. Brooklyn. by getting his sigma
II 10 draw Albertson's money out of the
savings bank He obtained his freedom
three months ago.
Hendrickson came straight back from
Sing Sing prison TO the little home In
Brooklyn. at 1894 Bergen street, where the
wife was waiting for his return. The boy
Harry. eight years old, and little Emma,
six years old. were wild at the sight OF
their father, who they thought had been
away to make money for them and their
mother.
CHANGES NAME TO HARRY cox.
straightway Hendrickson changed his
little Coxes and the wife called herself
Mrs. Cox. The old life was to be forgot
ten.
1t was a long search for work In the
summer season, but finally Cox got a
place as conductor with the Brooklyn
Rapid-Transit company, and was assign
ed 10 the Bergen street line. He went to
work every day and put In his fourteen
or sixteen hours
Each week his wife got all his wages.
Soon they were out OF debt and the little
home that had been built up on Bergen
street held many comforts for wife and
babies.
other women pointed out the car con-
ductor as a model to their husband He
was always sober and hard worker. All
his spare time he spent with his wife and
little ones. The wife soon became friend
ly with all the neighbors. She told them
her husband had been out Of work for a
long time. but that his wages were fast
making them comfortable again.
II feel so happy" she said one day
to one OF the other tenants in the house;
"our good luck seems too good 10 be true.
My husband Is the best man in the
world
II was on Friday last that the bad luck
came. Had Judge Hurd been a second
later he would have missed the car and
Hendrickson and his little brood would
have been happy last night. The conduc-
tor recognized his former Judge in q
twinkling. He rang up the fare and
stood In front OF his passenger.
Perhaps you don's recognize me, Judge
Hurd." he ventured.
Your face Is familiar" responded the
ex-judge, but I can't place you"
THANKS HIS FORMER JUDGE.
I'm Hendrickson," continued the con-
ductor. II want to thank you for your
kindness TO me. You remember, you let
me off with n light sentence. You sent
me 10 Sing Sing for Is months when you
could have given me more. I'm all right
now I'm getting good wages and I've
got a nice little home for my wife and
babies
I'm glad" said Judge Hurd heartily.
extending his hand to shake that OF the
conductor.
That closed the little interview, but
Judge Hurd remembered II and COM
mented on the mans good fortune 20 a
friend later in the week Finally the
word reached Detective Sergeant Roche,
who arrested Hendrickson two years ago,
and soon ~ was known that Cox. the
exemplary conductor, was none other
than the ex-convict.
Better tip 'em or" Roche told his
captain. Captain Reynolds OF Headquar-
ters. notified the trolley people. They
were angry. and as soon as the legal ma :
chinery could be started Cox" or Hem
erickson. was again arrested by Roche
he wept when ne learned that because
he was an ex-convict IL would cost him
his Job, but ne was utterly astounded
that he should be dragged or TO jail be-
cause he had found work to support his
family.
Not guilty" he pleaded when ar
raigned I'm the Butler street court yester-
day. He was accused OF violating section
$40 Of the Penal Code I'm saying that he
had never been convicted Of any crime
and that he was giving his own name
The wife at home soon heard the news,
dressed her children in their best, packed
the valises and quietly went away.
Were going 20 the country for ten
days" she said keeping back her tears
and the secrets she was hiding from the
children.