The sun., 1905-10-01
PERIL SEIZES ON ATTORNEY.
READYMADE FAMILY ADOPTS
HIN on SIGHT. ..

Island AZ I'm TO HalD the Gelberts
Into This COuntry-MamIna Colbert
Claims Him rs Her Falthless Yankcl.
When Israel Lerner attorney and East
side politician, took the Job OF getting
Mrs Yankel Gelbcrt out Of the detention
pen at Ellis Island he didn't know, he hadn't
the slightest idea. what he was going up
against Harry Saperstein, Mrs. Colbert 3
brother, engaged him and paid him $40
down as retainer.
lankel Colbert came to this country
four years ago. Mrs. Colbert followed
him this month, She brought with her
two sons, Hirshl and Pinous, aged and O..
For reasons unknown Yankel didn't seem
to want to see his family. He left the
city last week. In the meantime Mrs
Colbert, who is Russian Jew. 20 years
old, had told the Ellis Island people that
her husband would come for her. He
didn't The authorities said that a brother
wouldn't do, and so Lerner was retained
TO represent her when she appeared before
an examining board last Friday morning
to show catlse why she should not be
deported
Lerner entered the board room without
seeing his client and took his place before
the visible majesty OF the law. The door
opened presently and small and rather
comely Jewish woman, her hair covered
orthodox fashion, was escorted into the
room.
Mine sister" said Saperstein. It was,
in fact Mrs. Gilbert.
She looked about her for a moment and
her eye fell on Lerner. What happened
next paralyzed Lerner, Saperstein and the
Court
~Mein Non!" she yelled. -Mein Yankel!'
and she hurled herself into the arms OF
Lerner. Her two little boys began to vail
and tegan kissing the lawyers hands.
Here take her away!" yelled Lerner
Two officers pulled Mrs. Gilbert away.
She stood with the tears streaming down
her face.
she cried in Yiddish. Let me come to
your arms! Don't deny me. Yankel!"
Any cne who hss ever seen Russian
Hebrew woman excited knows that she can
give an Italian cards and spades. And
this was about as excited Russian Hebrew
woman as man ever saw.
What's the matter?" asked the board
Of inquiry. Are you her husband?"
Not" yelled Lerner. Il never saw her
before. Keep Ter away. somebody" for
Mrs. Gilbert was trying to get at him again
and the two little boys were yelling Papa!
Papa!" at the top of their voices. =,
4 know what's the matter. with you!,
cried Mrs. Colbert her grief turning to blind
anger. You've got some other girl They
always take up other girls when, they come
nj mine Yankel take me back
Are you this woman's husbands" the
board asked again, very severely.
Lerner, a lawyer suddenly turned de-
fendant raised his right hand, both hands.
Gentlemen. swear that I'm innocent,
he said.
Liar! Liar! 1t is some other girl!
Hirshl-Pincus-curs your father that be-
trays your motherl" walled Mrs. Colbert
when the Interpreter had translated.
Lerner, who is married man. and a father
by the way, was blushing scarlet by this
time and weaving from, one foot TO the
other. An idea occurred to him. Maybe
she'd bean told that they were going to ring
n q Fake husband on her in order'to get her
out Of the detention pen A.
extraordinary circunastan of .this case, !.
Id like 10 be allowed 20 zee this woman
alone for a few minutes " 1t was an un-
usual request, but this was unusual case
at Ellis Island. Lerper and Mrs, Colbert
we're shown into room alone; In two
minutes Lerner, much rumpled, ba cked
out Of the door with Mrs. Colbert in close
pursuit, She was bowling.
:. oh, mine Yankel it's Rosh ha shanah.
You wouldn' t leave me alone with Christians
over New: Year's?' The little boys were
bowling and kissing his wrists.
Sapersts in tried to interfere, to tell her
that this wasn't Yankel. She brushsd him
aside and fell al over Ler1er again Finally
two attendants grabbed her and sat her
down hard on a bench There. she had
Mysteries until the bailiff had to pour
bucket of wa ter over her.
His self-a ppointed wife being temporarily
silent. Lsrner tried to resume his argument:
BI 1t, yop say not shsn er ars @s
believe anything this woman tells us?"
That was a poser Lerner could only
plead weakly to have the case laid over
while he appealed to Washington. That
was granted. AS Mrs. Colbert was led
f2eS S me She !!snks !s sn9
h,r she cursed the American girl who had
ven MIN away and she implored Heaven
70 blast him on e New Year. The last
LsrEec saw OF her. the last he wants to see,
e was uying 10 hurdle through window
20 get at HIM.
That's all there is Of it. No one knows
the key. II she's insane her two boys must
have caught it, too Lerner had photo
graph Of Colbert dug up Yesterday MIS-.
Celbert's real husband and her husband by
appointment look little alike, but not
enough Lerner thinks, for wife to make
a mistake. She's Russian and was never
out Of that country before; Lerner is an
Austrian, has been in America since he was
q year old and has never been in Europe |
since.
Maybe she liked my style Of beauty"
said Lerner yesterday. But, anyway, l |
tell you one thing. When that case comes
10 clerk from my Office will appear before |
the board, and not me, you bet you'll"
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