The sun., 1916-12-25
GRANNY BERSINGER
SET FREE BY A WRIT
Says Friends Turkey Dinner
Will Be Better Than
TOmbs Chicken.
OBJECTS TO PANS IN JAIL
Would Scrub Floors Before
Asking Aid Of Mother-in-
law, She Declares.

Mrs. Clara #. Bersinger, the HIch-
mond Hill grandmother who was sent to
tho workhouse by Magistrate Henry
Miller Of Jamaica on December IL under
six months sentence because che
wouldn't. Just wouldn't, pay e6 . week
for the support Of three small grand
children, was released from jail yester-
day on q writ Of hsbeas corpus.
Stores being closed. ahs COULDN'T get
Christmas turkey for herself and
Grandfather Bervinser. but friends in
vited the elderly pair to have Christ
mas dinner with them. which. grand
mother said last night. will Be vastly
different to eating chicken in the
Tombs."
The youngsters toward whose support
Mrs. Bersinser declined to pay are Myr-
tie. Calvin and Arthur Jones. 4. 3 and 2
years respectively. They are the chill
dfcn Of Mrs. Bersingers son. Arthur
Jones. and It was Mrs. Edna B. p. Jones.
their mother. who made tho complaint
which resulted in the grandmothers
prosecution.
After Edgar r. Hazeiton. Mrs. Ber-
singers attorney. applied to Supreme
Court Justice Greenbaum on Saturday
for a review OF her case Mrs Bersin-
ger was transferred from the Black
wells Island workhouse to the Tombe
and the Justice asked counsel to submit
briefs. Mr.. Haxelton sat I'D until 4
o'clock yesterday morning preparing his
argument.
Orders womaa's Release.
The Justice gave up a good part OF
the day to his consideration Of the case
and ordered the woman's release on the
ground that the committing Magistrate
had no Jurisdiction. He decided that
under Section $50 Of the City Charter a
Magistrate could have jurisdiction only
upon application OF the Commissioner
or Charities after an order issued by
the Commissioner for the support OF
children had been violated.
AS soon as tho writ WAS signed Law
yer Hazelton hurried to tho Tombs with
the document and Grandmother Bersin-
ger was released. She went straight to
her home at 1ss Cedar avenue. Rich
mond HilI.
"bt k'ihk 10 HbNe n NGnrlSt1ldS 0ln-
ncr out OF Jail after ALL" Mrs. Rersingcr
SAID to SrS man. at will be in
strange contrast with the chicken din
ncr which. am informed. will be served
to the inmates OF the workhouse on
Christmas Day. This meal will enjoy
will not be served on tin plate. One Of
the hardest things ! had TO stand on
Blsckwelrs Island was the vile board
which was dished up on tin plates. As
bad as the fare was. found that some
Of the half famishcd inmates were glad
TO eat what I discarded.
Dtdn't Have 20 Work.
During my stay in the workhouse !
was not compelled to work because the
authorities there said they didn't know
why was sent 10 Jail I am not an idle
woman. however. and I kept myself busy
making bandages and other things In the
Red Cross department. ! had cell all
to myself. which Is not the usual thing.
The attendants treated me with re-
srect. demanded respect and got IT,
Think OF putting woman Of my station
In life among a lot OF dcgencrates.
AS regards my daughter-in-laws
treatment NJ me: I had contributed con-
siderable money to the support Of her
children until I found that she would do
nothing herself. Mrs. Jones didn't ask
me To help her She demanded II. Tn.
der the circumstances when a daughter
in-law has hcr husbands mother put In
jail and demands of that mother that she
shall support her and her children what
would any woman OF spirit doo She
would do exactly as did. absolutely re-
fuse
~ am thrifty woman. save where
I can. but II would be utter foolishness
to pay out money to woman who win
not work, ! am willing to do anythins
to save my husbands salary, but I
wouldnt ask my mcther-in-law for help,
much less demand II. ia scrub floors
Arst