New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-08-12
SON LEAVES AGED WOMAN
She Waits Four Hours at Bridge
Entrance, Ignored by Crowds.
POLICE SEARCH FOR HIM
Meantime Canadian Woman Is at
Hotel, After Commissioner T.,
Dougherty Comes to Aid.

An aged French woman from Montreal
Canada, sat sobbing four hours last nigh,
al the Brooklyn Bridge terminal ~ the
subway Thousands passe1 nv, but nons
paid any attention TO her, as she sal ths-.
on travelling bag holding a mans coat
in her arms
The special police employed by The Tnts,.
borough Company we're also obivious -
the woman's presence. and allowed her -
remain at her post without asking ques.
ton. The French woman was waiting for
her son. who had left her AZ O'Clock,
promising 10 return al s. She copt
speak no English, and II was with tie
greatest difficulty that finally. becoming I'M
patient at the long absence Of her son, sae
was able TO inquire Of the ticket agent u
any OF the vast throng Of people passing
by her could speak French
The agent was anxious to help. but hun.
dreds had sped by his window before ore
man volunteered TO try 10 md out the
cause Of the woman's distress. This man
happened TO be q reporter. lie spoke little
French. but he was willing TO do oil he
could 10 clear up the matter
The woman told him that she was Mrs
Joseph Devault. Of Montreal, and that she
had been waiting for the return OF her
son. who had come with her as far "a the
bridge on the subway. She said they were
planning TO go to Coney Island 10 pass tn.
evening. and that to-day they were 10 20
10 Portland. Me She couldn't remember
where they had lived since arriving In thfs
city on Wednesday, for. as she explained,
the son who was missing had taken full
charge of her lie told her he would join
her in an hour.
Mrs. Devault said her son had several
hundred dollars with MIN and that ne had
loft her with only n small amount ~ Ga
madam money She said she was widow
and that the son had always been most
dutiful toward her.
AS she finished her story patroman
appeared on the scene The reporter ea-
planned the situation. and after remarks
TO the effect that the subway policeman
should have attended TO the case he fnaiy
consented TO take the woman in chsrss.
With the reporter carrying her suitcase
Mrs. Devault was taken 10 the bDaetn
street station, where the lieutenant asked
the usual questions. He then told the re-
porter that he would send word 10 the In.
formation bureau. When asked what TINS
meant he replied that II any one answer
NO the description OF her son showed I'D
ar any of the stations word would he sent
to the mother.
Where was the woman 10 remain mean
while? The lieutenant suggested that
some home might afford temporary rel
uge. and that meantime she might remain
there.
Several French institutions, including the
French Hospital, were talked 10 by tee
nhone. but no one could tell where. In
case OF thi. kind. woman would be re-
ceived. even though there were surieleM
funds 20 pay for nights lodging.
DEPUTY Police Commissioner Dougherty
was then appealed TO, and the situation ex-
plained to him The commissioners inquired
"a 70 whether the woman had had any
thing to eat and when told that she had
not eaten since 10 O'Clock in the morning NJ
said he would see 10 It that she had
good meal
At Headquarters the lieutenant In charge
sent out a notification TO the various pre-
cincts TO be on the lookout for man an
swer,ne the description OF Mrs Devauits
son.
As the result Of Commissioner Dough
ertv.s stand Mrs Deyault was placed IN
charge Of a detective shortly before MD
night. and taken 70 the Broadway Cenual
Hotel