Republican farmer. [volume] (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1810-1920, 1918-02-01
DIES PLEADING
TO SAVE SON
FROM SERVICE

New York, Jan. 29-Mrs. Jacob
Panken, rs years old, mother of ia
cob Panken, Socialist-pacifist judge
of the Municipal court, died suddenly
last night of heart disease brought
on by excitement as she was about to
plead before local draft board in the
Bronx for the exemption from mill
tary service of her younger son, Movie
Panken, 25 years old.
Absolute secrecy about the case
was maintained by the district board
last night, inquirers being referred
to the police, but a Bronx county Of
fetal who investigated the woman's
sudden death said he understood from
a policeman who preceded him to
Public School 4, at linton avenue
and 174th street where the board
was in session and waiting to hear the
Panken case, that the aged woman's
plea was based upon the claim that
she was dependent upon her younger
| son for support.
A physician on the medical exam
| iner's staff who examined the body
and determined the cause of death
found that Mrs. Panken had $149 in
| her pocketbook and $4,000 in a roll
of bills. This physician said he was
not quite sure of the ground of the
claim for exemption, but denied a ru-
NOR that it had been made on the
ground of the sons mental unfitness
| for military service. He said the fact
that young Panken had to bring his
mother out on such a night as last
night in order to get her testimony
before the board was proof, in his
| mind, that the claim was not based
upon any ground which could have
been substantiated by the examina-
| ton of the son alone.
Officials who hurried to the school
after DIR. Dooling of F'ordham hos
pital had found Mrs. Panken beyond
aid, attempted to examine the son,
| but found him unnerved, so they
gained little information from him.
| Other witnesses said that while the
board, headed by DR.. Philip Eichler
of 1,7S7 Washington avenue, the
Bronx, was waiting on the second
floor of the schoolhouse for the Pan
kens to arrive the woman and her
son hurried into the downstairs hall
way.
Mrs. Panken showed great excite
ment and was in physical distress be-
fore she could reach the stairs. She
became hysterical and then sank to
the floor. While members of the
board hurried to her side, she was
/ carried into an ante room and
stretched out on a bench, while a
hurry call was sent for an ambu-
lance The son was taken upstairs
and the real fact as to his mothers
condition was kept from him until it
had been determined definitely that
she was dead. He was then sent
home.
1t could not be learned whether
the board took any action on his case
but it was presumed that, in view OF
the circumstances, the hearing was
postponed until after the mothers fu-
reral. Those familiar with proceed
iIgs of the draft boards thought last
night that if the young mans claim
for exemption, or his mothers claim
fer him, was based on the ground thai
he was her support, her death auto
matically would remove his chance o.
getting favorable action, and the board
No. Is, would order him into service
at the next call.
Little could be learned abou
young Panken last night except tina
he is in the furniture business at g.,
COZ Webster avenue, the Bronx. The
store at that address is listed in the
city directory as ''Panken & Co., (No
vie Panken.)"
Mrs. Panken lived at 881 East 177tr
street, the Bronx. Judge Jacob Pan
ken likewise lived there, and it wa:
said Movie also makes his home
IL ere. Judge Panken could not b.
reached last night. At the home i
was said he had been sent for, blu
had not arrived up to midnight.
Judge Panken is the first Socialis
to be elected to the Municipal Cour
bench. He ran with Morris Hill
; Quit on an Immediate peace" plat
form, and is very well known amon&
radicals all over the city, being ;
fiery speaker given to denouncing tn
''autocracy,' which he charges ha
grown I'D in America since the war.