The Washington times., 1916-12-15
WOMAN, 60, JAILED
FOR NONSUPPORT
Grandmother Sentenced to Six
Months in Workhouse Un-
der Old Law.

NEW YORK, Dec. ia woman Of
sixty spent last night in a cell, and
today will go to the workhouse for
six months because yesterday she re
fused In court to pay 50 n week to-
ward the support OF her three grand
children on the ground that her son,
father OF the three little ones, IL able
TO support them.
The official who sentenced the
grandmother to help support her
grandchildren. Magistrate Harry Mil
Ter. OF Jamaica. said after passing
sentence that not only were the cir.
cumstances leading up 20 yesterdays
proceedings unusual. but also that the
law itself upon which he had acted
was an ,old one that never had beer
passed upon by the higher courts.
Refused To Give Bond.
The grandmother. Mrs. Clara Bess.
enger. who owns the home In which
she lives at 100 Cedar avenue. Rich
mond Hin, and II said to own other
properties I'm The Bronx as well as
n small bank account. could have
stayed out OF n cell by putting up n
bond, OF $500 and obeying the courts
mandate to provide 50 week for
her grandchildren, who now are des'
tItutc, A woman friend OF Mrs. Bcss.
enger who was In court promptly Of
fered to go on the bond. but Mrs.
Messenger refuSed-on principle, Sh"
said.
The complaint upon which Mrs. Bes-.
senger was sent yesterday to the Queens
county jail. and today Will be trans
ferred 10 the workhouse. was made by
her daughter-in-law. Mrs. Edna Jones.
mother OF the three grandchildren. Mrs.
Jones husband. who II alleged To have
deserted his wife and family some time
ago, In n son ~ Mrs. Messenger by
former marriage.
Asks for Jones' Arrest.
The troubles OF Mrs. Passenger, her
son and daughtcr-in-law and the three
grandchildren FIRST were brought to the
attention of Magistrate Miller misc
months ago. At that time Magistrate
Miller said. young Mrs. Jones--she and
her husband are In their twentIes-
came before him and asked for n war
rant for the arrest OF Jones for non
Jones. who says he Is an actor. was
arrested and hailed before Magistrate
Miller late last March The magistrate
sTSnS IS9s' him sS .S psy SssS 1t
his wife. who was and Is delicate. pro.
cure a bond OF $500 or go 60 jail for
six months Jones went TO jail.
lie Was IN cell Tor ABOUT Two
months when. said tho magistrate.
Mrs. Jones and her mother.in law, Mrs.
Messenger. came into his court again
and asked for his release on the
ground that Mrs. Jones and her chill.
dren thought he would be better on
free and working TO support his three
children.
Pledged sos's FuiaIiment.
Magistrate Miller said that Mrs,
Bessenger on that occasion said she
would go on her sons bond and see
to Il that he paid the SO week he
had been ordered TO pay. IL the son
didn't do so then Mrs. Messenger
promised TO see that the 50 would he
forthcoming. so Magistrate Miller re-
called yesterday,
The magistrate thereupon released
young Jones last spring. Instead az
working for his family, however.
Jones promptly disappeared, and Mrs.
Jones has not seen her husband
since. The young wife and mother
had a baby only a few months old on
her hands, and the care OF two other
children. one OF whom contracted In.
fantile paralysis during the past sum,
mer. Mrs. Jones remained a semi.
invalid and she had no means OF sup,
port.