The Washington times., 1902-07-06
PARENTAL Love OFT
DEFIBS CRITICISM
Cd Sleuth Tells Touching
Story of a Sons Fall.
SHORTAGE IN ACCOUNTS
Sent to Penitentiary of Which Father
Was Warden-Duty to State Having
Been Done Parent rendered Resigna-
ton.

Fiction is productive of few more
dramatic situations than an occurrence
which happened in big State peniten-
tiary several years ago." remarked a
veteran sleuth at local Police Headquar-
ters several nights ago when the mem
bers of the ring were off duty. and
sat for hours enjoying the aroma OF to-
bacco smoke and swapping stories be-
fore retiring to their homes At the
hint from the "old-timer" that he
wished to tell a story the members of
the force present drew their chairs neal
and all were silent.
The story which Is a pathetic and
true one was told to me within a month
after it had occurred by a detective who
| figured in the case.
1T seems that for years the manage
ment of the penitentiary had been under
| the direction of an old esteemed resi-
dent of the city in which the institution
was situated. He was noted for his
manliness of character and big hearted
ness. Not long after his appointment to
the position of warden he named his
son. well educated and fine looking
youth to the position of clerk.
Shortage Shown.
"All went well for almost year when
shortage was noticed In the financial
accounts of the penal institution. The
matter was thoroughly investigated by
the State officials and the shortage
placed at the young mans door.
The announce ment Of his guilt ere
ated intense excitement The blow was
bitter one to the father, but he bore
his misfortune nobly. The youth, ii
seems, had received a salary OF 5000 a
year, which was scarcely enough to sup
port himself in the style he desired The
sum above mentioned, it can be readily
seen, was not sufficient to pay for trips
to New York and other parts of the
country, hiring of equipages, and wine
suppers.
THE son soon grew reckless and tried
to exc out the necessary amount at the
gaming table. Then ii was the old story
over again. He would be rich one day
oaly to find himself penniless the next.
When the case ca ne for trial the shame
faced youth pleaded guilty to the charge
and was sentenced to serve four years
within the walls of the very peniten-
tiary where he had formerly been m
ployed, and where his father was the
head jailer.
Although. as the old saying goes,
Blood is thicker than water the war.
den simply remarked upon hearing OF
his sons conviction-'My first Is to |
the State lGK
"It was thought by all that upon the |
day his son waB carried to the institu-
ton the aged father would resign sooner |
than turn the iron bars upon his only |
child. but no-the old warden did not
he simply woul not resign under fire.
Would Not Resign.
THE board of directors OF the peni
tentiary met without delay. and letter
was drawn up expressing the embarrass-
ment to both the warden and the direct
ors OF the institution should he become
the jailer OF his son. The members of
the board suggested in the letter that
the heartbroken father resign. In reply
to the communication the warden re-
piled by saying that so long as no
charges were made against him and all
danger Oh SuSpitlOu NtAt Ao-Oft- - |
moved he would consent.
I'm the meantime the guilty son knew
but little of the horrible ordeal through
which his parent was passing. He was
dressed in the latest style as he was
driven to the jail, and the expression
upon his face as he saw the familiar
iron doors swing open for him was
likened to that OF a fawning dog re-
turning TO its master.
Doors Opened by Father.
who should be the one to open the
locrs but his old father. The eyes OF
father and son met. but there was no
sign of recognition upon the parents
part. The boy fixed his eyes upon his
'ather, but the aged man saw nothing
1ut the usual string of convicts, for his
only son was handcufsed to a strappng
big negro. The only evidence. OF emotion
displayed by the broken hearted jailer
vas the transferring from one side OF :