Los Angeles herald., 1907-10-09
KEEPS HIS PROMISE
AND GOES TO JAIL
JUDGE TRUSTS BOY FATHER TO
SAY eoop-BY
Is Given Two Months to Make Money
to Keep Wife. and Baby While
He Is in Bride.
well

CHICAGO, Oct s.--After two months
of preparation, during which time
he might easily have escaped from
the city, John E. McCaffery, 20 years
old, will tomorrow morning part from
his young wife and baby at the door of
the house of correction. Unless the
unexpected happens in the way of
pardon takes place McCaffery knows
that it will be year before he Will
join his wife again.
But the young man has steeled him.
self for the ordeal and he is expecting
no sympathy. His only hope is that
the little pile of money which he has
boarded up in his sixty days of grace
will be sufficient to keep his wife and
baby from want.
TT isn't for myself that I am wor-
rying," said McCaffery last evening as
at his little home at 403 Robey street
he, was making the most of the few
hours he still may enjoy with his
family.
II gave my word to Judge Landis
that l would give. myself up at the
bridewell tomorrow, and I am going to
do it. But it's hard-terribly hard on
my wife and the little fellow"
Mccaffery's Fall from Grace
1t was about a year ago that Nc
Caffery, who was mail carrier, fell
from grace and, while with some COM
panions, squandered his months salary
before reaching home. His wife had
been sick, his baby boy was but few
weeks old, and there was a great stack
of unpaid bills.
McCaffery continued on his route for
two days, carrying letters in which he
knew there was money So one day he
took letter containing small sum of
money from his mail bag and paid one
of his long overdue bills.
In few weeks, however, the secret
service men found him out and at last
he, who believed himself the poorest
and most miserable man in the world,
appeared before Judge Lands on the
same day that John d. Rockefeller, the
richest man in the world, appeared to
defend his corporation.
Gives Him Two Months
The Judge made an unheard of stipu-
lation when he sentenced McCaffery
II am going to give you two months
to prepare yourself and your wife for
this separation" said Judge Lands.
81 want you to give me your word OF
honor that you will, at the end of that
time, go to the house of correction and
give yourself up"
For a moment the man was dazed by
this unexpected generosity.
Your honor" he said at last, III
am alive will go to the bridewell as
you order me to, and give myself up"
Then he walked out of the court room
and succeeded in finding employment
with a construction company on the
south side.
When he told his wife Of his exper-
ience she wept tears, not of sorrow but
of joy.
John, the Judge trusts you and
know that you are worthy of It,"
Last Free Day
Today McCaffery will spend every
minute in the company of his wife and
baby. The baby, a chubby boy OF ten
months, just has begun to form baby
words McCaffery understands them.
HE has just learned to say daddy.
said the father last evening. Il guess.
perhaps, he will be able to talk more
when 1 come back to him. It'll be
long, long time, little chap" he said
addressing the child. before we can
romp together again. / hope you'll be
as we'll and as fat as you are now"