The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1909-07-31
PATHETIC PLEA
FOR ERRING SON
New York Mother Writes Meridian
Judge TO Show Mercy in Case of
Boy in Jail There.

MERIDIAN, Miss, July 31.-A
letter has been received by Judge
Buckley from Mrs. Yetta Klein moth
er of Joseph Klein, and it is of a very
tender touching nature-just such a
letter as a loving and devoted mother
would write. The great mother-love
is strongly manifested all the way
through, and the letter will touch tn
heart strings of those who read it. II
is evident that Kleius mother Is "a
good woman, foI only O. GOOD woman
could express hersel, tu such deli
cate, yet tender and devoted way She
is a long ways off, but it Is her boy
that is in Jail and IN trouble, ana her
letter TO Judge Buckley shows that
she is a lady of refinement and cul-
ture.
Joseph Klein is the young man. who
claimed to be a converted Jew, who
eXhorted at some religious meetings
held in this city last fall and wnu
later stole some clothing and money
from the house where he boarded. He
left and went to St. Louis. and after
wards wrote to the landlady of the
boarding house confessing that he had
done wrong and had misled people
Officer Ludie Monette went to 81
Louis and brought him back to Me
ridian in the spring and he has been
in the county jail ever since. He was
arraigned in court this week and
pleaded guilty TO the theft that was
charged against him.
The Letter From His Mother.
The following is the letter received
from the mother by Judge Buckley:
Brooklyn, y. Y, 500 Hopkinson
Avenue July 21 1909.
To the Honorable Judge of the County
Court Meridian, Miss.
Dear Sir-On July 26, l understand
is the trial OF my son, Joseph Klein.
What the charges are against him. I
do not fully understand. but l am go.
ing TO ask you in the name of a moth
er 10 show clemency and leniency to-
wards him. While Joe has probably
been wild, he has not been bad nor
vicious. and inquiries made concern.
ing him viii develop that he has an
honorable record in the home city,
shall Dee clad if you so desire to send
you letters from various concerns.
whore he has been employed while
at home, concerning his character and
reputation.
am unable to employ a lawyer to
defend him, as I am poor my home
being supported by my daughter. my
husband being a diabetic sufferer ana
unable to work. Joe left home TO
shift for himself and occasionally
would hear from him telling me how
he was getting along, which record
was always good. l do not know
what induced him to commit the deed
for which he was arrested, nor the
connected with it: YOU
see l am way up North and he is way
down South. Letters are not very
explicit and l cannot go down there
to investigate. I am heart-broken
over the matter and the idea that it
is my son, in whom l had taken so
much pride. should find himself in
such a situation, has caused ME many
a sleopless and fearful night. My
family has had an honorable reputa-
ton ever since l can remember. and
am now almost fifty years old.
stand my feelings, if not may GOO
If You are a father you will under,
put mercy into you in order that you
may show it to my boy.
Thanking you for your kindness, I
am Respectfully,
MRS, YETTA KLEIN.