New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-10-22
WOMAN TO RESCUE SERF
She'll Have Brother lnterCede
with His Friend, King Tommy
CLASSMATES AT COLLEGE
u,s Gramdbassa Highness a
Good Fellow and Doubtless
Will Save Peon.

,-,,,Aen-year-old Mahogany Branch, Of
,,-ookIyn and Liberia, mas found a friend
- will intercede for him at the court
- crsndbassa He is George J. sager, a
-,o,asale woollen merchant Of Syracuse.
~ saeer and King Bumo Of the Grand
$40 tribe. were classmates at Syracuse
University years ago.
Tho king was known at Syracuse as
.sTor,ra, Lewis" because his given name
nos unpronounceable. The king did not
r,,n6 the appellation and was a good
,auow according TO report. He told MS
comrades at the university that he had
Undertaken his studies in compliance
1,,,p the wishes of his father, VINO want
"A him 10 lead the work Of enlightening
Ne poouIe. The members Of his tribe
worship idols and have q superstitious
d,stsste for knowledge. They believe that
their local gods do not want them edu-
Gated. and they have a custom OF putting
a. death any tribesmen who accept in
structon.
The Liberlan boy came TO the attention
~ the authorities on Thursday, when
Mrs Lucy D. Dingwall, Of No. 20 Adams
street Brooklyn, had him arraigned be-
fore Justice Ryan, in the Children's
Court, as an incorrigible. Mahogany was
hound over TO Or. Joseph Dingwall, a
merchant and druggist of Gramdbassa,
bv his father, Budo. A year ago last
September he accompanied Mrs. DinEwall
on q visit TO America, He got her per-
mission TO &c to school.
When he learned a short time ago that
he was soon TO return TO his native land
Mahogany ran away and found home
with Mrs. Mary Best, of No. - Lexington
avenue. Mrs DlngwalI discovered him
after much trouble and had him arrested.
She told the court that she had TO nave
Mahogany back by December l. when his
three years Of service would end, or risk
her husbands life. Mahogany declared
that he would rather so TO jail than re-
turn as he would certainly be killed as
an educated tribesman. The case was
adjourned.
The Young peon has become favorlte
among the youngsters in the Children 5
Society Building in Schermerhorn street.
His tales Of snakes fried in lions fat ana
other table luxuries of his part Of the
world, TO say nothing Of his stories Of
weird ceremonies, ghosts and strange ad-
ventures have made him q valued addl-
ton TO the waits. His importance in their
eyes has been enhanced by his declaration
that he is the favorite son and, should he
SO desire, could some day inherit his
fathers possessions and four wives. But
Mahogany has no intention Of !nheTiung
the wives and other properties Of his
father. He intends TO remain here, II he
can, and become an American citizen.
Mrs. A. Becker, OF No. ll25 Bergen
street. visited the Children's Society yes
terday in her automobile and told Acting
Superintendent Myers all about the friend
ship that existed between Mr. Sager, who
IS her brother, and Tommy Lewis,
otherwise known as Bumo, King Of
Gramdbassa. She will get her brother, she
said 70 communicate with his highness
and ask him to instruct Buda, Mahogany
Branchs father, TO extend the period OF
the boys service two years.
This will give Mrs. Dingwall plenty OF
time, II is thought, to persuade her small
charge TO go back to Africa with her, or
else TO get her husband out Of the danger
zone.