New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-09-22
HER PLIGHT FREES
DEBTOR HUSBAND
Starving Mother, with
Baby in Arms, Wins Grit
enhagen's Pity and Help.
WARDEN OF LUDLOW
PUTS UP $500 BOND
Prisoner Is Released and Sher'il
Gives Wife $50 Check and
Hats Dispossess Action.

An extreme instance or tie hardship
visited on poor judgmen. deA.ors com
mitted 20 Ludlow Street Jail and on
their families came 90 the attention OF
Sheriff Grfenhagcn yesterday. when a
weepirs. Eaunt woman visited the
Sherif's Office. bearing in ner arms an
infant abou; year and a half old.
The child, probably a bright young
stcr when properly fed, was pale and
listless. She clearly lacked nutrition.
The woman was the mother Of still an
other child. a little older than the one
i'm her arms. Some kind person was
taking care Of that one.
Up 10 about three months ago the
caller al the Sherif's Office was The
happy wife Of Francis Twarduskl. who
kept his family in fairly good circum-
stances by selling religious pictures
and decorations. Since July , he has
been in Ludlow Street jail because he
was unable to obtain bail bond IN
civil action against him.
Deprived o. her husbands support,
Mrs Twarduski was compelled 20 place
chattel mortgage on the furnishings
Of her home. at s25 West l7Sth Street.
Even that failed to tide over the fam
ilv. for when the money was spent the
husband and father was stih in jail.
The rent # the home remained unpaid.
M. Twordusk unw.llingly placed the
older Of her children with a friend.
How she and the baby had survived
their hardships she was unable 10 tell
yesterday When she left her home
Yesterday Mrs. Twarduski didn't know
how long the roof would be over her
head how long the crib the baby slept
in would be left TO her by the holder OF
the chattel mortgage; nor had she any
idea where the next morsel of food
was coming from. She owes $40 ar
rcars Of rent for her s27 apartment
The notice Of dispossess was In her
worn purse.
The purpose Of the distressed wOm
ans visit TO the Sheriff was to obtain
the release of her husband. Mrs.
TwardusN had no clear idea just how
this could be accomplished. She told
her story TO Sheriff Grfcnhagen. he
investigated and found that Twarduski
had been arrested by Deputy sheriff
Brickner in a suit brought by Ludwig
Pustete and Herman Papke. Twardus
ki's EMPLOYERS. for SSiS. They alleged
conversion. The bail had been fixed at
$4,000. Since July >, when the arrest
was made, the bail had been reduced
TO 5000. and still the defendant was
unable to get a bond
Deeply touched by tie misery Of the
wife and children of the prisoner. there
was nothing that Sheriff Grifenhagen
could do as an official. But as plain
Mr.. Gri:enhagen he formed plan that
brought happiness to the little family
and freedom to Twarduski. First he
telophoned the owner Of the house
where the family lived and got him to
agree that on the payment Of one
months rent he would not modest the
family at least until November !.
The Sherif's next step was 10 give
Mrs. Twarduski a check for $50. This
was to pay a months rent, an install
ment on the chattel mortgage and buy
food for the mother and child.
Counsel for the plaintiffs, who had
obtained a judgment for about 5000,
consented to a reduction Of the JudG-
mcnt 10 5000. To get out Of jail Twar..
dusk would have TO give a bond OF
twice the amount Of the judgment
$500. There was another hitch TO find
some one to pay the cost Of the bond.
The delay was not long. Warden
Thomas Rock was this time the good
Samaritan. He not only offered to pay