The Athena press. [volume] (Athena, Umatilla County, Or.) 18??-1942, 1906-03-30
SHE WANTS Her SON
MOTHER ASKS FOR DEMENTED
BOY AT SALEM.
Senator Fulton Interested In Case Of
E. McNally, Formerly Of
Baker City.

A Washington dispatch says: The
machinery of great government,
although ponderous and mighty, is
often sensitive to the distress of one
poor individual. As Lincoln would
often insist upon cold law and regula-
tions being stayed while be shielded
an unfortunate individual, followers
in statecraft temper law with
mercy, but as rule in less conspicu-
ous manner than the great president.
Oregon furnished case last week
which started the winged messengers,
and if things do not miscarry, poor.
depressed mother of Maine will have
the humble joy of nursing until death
her dem ented son.
State Treasurer Charles S. Moore
recently was asked to aid Mrs. A. E.
McNally of Bangor, Me-, in having
her demented son, Henry E. McNally,
sent from the Oregon asylum for the
insane to the Maine institution near
her work. Mrs. McNally wrote, in
the cramped hand Of poor, illiterate,
hard worked woman that her living
was earned by day labor. Her savings
from early womanhood had been used
to educate and help her young son in
to employment He mad acquired the
necessary knowledge for position
with the weather bureau, and was
sent to the Office in Baker City, Ore.
Shortly after taking the position he
became insane, and was sent to the
asylum. All of the anguish this
stroke could carry to an old, widowed
mother, has clearly driven into the
heart of Mrs. McNally. She has
reached the age when efficient work
is impossible, and was preparing to
live on the meager share her son could
allow from his wage. Deprived Of
this stay in old age, hopelessly separ-
ated from her unfortunate son. and
desiring only the privilege of admin
istering to him in the last hours, her
letter is one Of peculiar pathos.
II have saved money to bring him
back" she wrote to Mr.. Moore.
"Will they let him come. May be
they will take him in the asylum
here, which is near where work. /
could see him sometimes then, and
be with him until he died, which the
doctor says will not be far away"
Mr.. Moore referred the letter to
Superintendent j. Il. Calbreath of the
asylum, with the request that what
ever was possible, be done to aid the
mother. DIR. Calbreath had no juris-
diction beyond his own state. and
communicated with Senator Fulton
here, to see il he would have Maine
take the matter up.
Fulton is endeavoring to interest
Senators Hale and Frye. with the pur-
pose of having the young man either
sent to the government hospital for
insane here, or better still. returned
to the native safe, aud confined at
Bangor, as requested by the mother.
II this could be accomplished, it is
believed that the expenses of the
transfer could be arranged for out of
some public fund, thus permitting
the old mother to keep her little saw
ings which she is willing to spond
that her son may be near. She is too
old to go to him, would not be able to
sustain herself there. aud has but the
one mothers hope to indulge.
All of the officials who have become
acquainted with the case regard it
with especial interest, and readily
offer their best efforts to further the
plan. II the Maine authorities can be
persuaded to accept the change, the
transfer will be quickly made, and
the simple request that seems to repre-
sent the most abject sorrow known to
the human heart, will be fulfilled.