The Washington times., 1913-08-06
CONGRESSMAN WILL
PLEAD CURRY CASE
Secretary Of Navy win Be Urg-
ed to Pardon Enlisted Man
WhoIs Doing Time.

, Congressman Webb ofSNorth Carolina
today made an appointment for tomor-
row morning with Secretary of the
Navy Daniels. In order to make an ap-
peal In person that the pardon of Nor
man o. Curry. noVs imprisoned as a
navy deserter, be recommended. Mr..
Webb has no doubt that, when the
matter is placed before the Secretary
and the injustice of Curry's imprison-
ment is shown. prompt recommended
ton for pardon viii be made.
No steps have been taken to invoke
the aid of other Congressmen in the
case by friends who have interested
themselves In Mrs. Curry's behalf since
The Times found her and her two chill
dren facing starvation because their hus-
! band and father was taken away from
his work and sentenced by a navy
court-martial. 1t Is felt that It will
only be necessary to bring the matter
before the department to enlist the
ready sympathy of Secretary Daniels
and Of Assistant Secretary Roosevelt
Hold Sentence Unjust.
have expressed the opinion that there
is injustice in this case. but that justice
or not, semi-invalid mother and two
helpless children should not be left to
public charity or to starve because the
FAMILY bread-winner, who Is anxious to
return to the employment which has
been secured for him, is compelled to
serve eighteen months in prison In a
case Of technical desertion.
curry, In letters written to his wife
| since the campaign to obtain a pardon
| for him was started. expresses the
strongest hope that he will be allowed
to return and support those dependeut
| on him. He was moved to desert his
wife by parental interference, and.
ashamed to face his family after the
wrong he had done them, he enlisted
In the navy. Hearing of this his wife
had him brought back on non-support
charges.
He admitted his guilt and was placed
| on probation by Judge Ciabaugh, of the
District Supreme Court. After having
worked steadily for seven months to
support his family he was arrested as
navy deserter. although he did not
desert, but was forcibly taken from the
| navy, and that, too, after he had only
served three days Of his enlistment.
Had Served Previously.
Curry previously had served in the
marine corps. He saw service for two
years In Cuba. He was promoted to
the rank of sergeant before he was
given an honorable discharge.
Congressman Webb takes the position
i that he Is not deserter from the navy
| except in the most technical sense. But,
leaving aside this feature, he will make
an appeal to Secretary Daniels and
President Wilson to extend clemency for
humanity sake to man who has served
| his country faithfully, and whose aid
is 80 BADLY needed by his family.
Mrs. Curry has been aided by kind
| friends who rallied to her support when
The Times called attention to the
| straits In which she was left. The food
money is dwindling fast. More help win
be needed soon unless her husband is
permitted to return to her.
Is Grateful for Friends.
/ Mrs. Curry is deeply grateful to the
kind friends she has found since The
Times called attention to her condi-
ton. She wishes. through The Times.
to express her heartfelt thanks to
those who come to the aid OF woman
who was facing despair. Among those
! who have made gifts of money to Mrs.
/ Curry arc the following:
Employees of National Training School
| for boys, s17.35,
Navy Yard Arsenal employees, so.
Pennsylvania railway employees, so.
Received by Times from subscrib-
ers, IS.
Collected by Philip Cole, $50.
Subscriptions of s. were received
\ from an anonymous source by mail and
in a letter signed Mrs. William G.
A well-wisher sent sS. Those who gave
s. were Frank Rush. anonymous. Mr..
and Mrs. Smith, anonymous, r. F. D.
No. 4. box 09. and Mrs. Collins. Sub
! scriptions of 81 were received from Mrs.
, Mollahan, Mrs. Fowler, Mr.. Madison.
Samuel c. Long, L. o. B., J. E. Shaw,
Mrs. Myers, Mrs. Brady, Mrs. D.,