The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1918-01-29
DIES PLEADING TO SAVE SON
 FROM SERVICE


 Panken, 75 years old, mother of Ja- 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 mili- 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 Bronx county of- ficial who investigated the woman's sudden death said he understood from policeman who preceded him to Public School 4, at Hinton 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 $2,00O 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 l night in order to get her testimony h1f f1,1 It. 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 Dr. Dooling of Fordham 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 Eachler of 1,787 Washington avenue, the | Bronx, was waiting on the second 1 floor of the schoolhouse for the Pan kens to arrive, the woman and her son hurried into the downstairs hall I way.
 Mrs. Panken showed great excite l 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.
 It 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- ] r.era1. Those familiar with proceed l ings of the draft boards thought last night that if the young mans claim l for exemption, or his mothers claim fer him, vas based OH the ground that he was her support, her death auto ] matical1y would remove his chance oi | getting favorable action, and the board | NO. 10, WOulQ OTOer ul1n lHLO SeTFlCe
 at the Text call.
 | Little could be learned abou young Panken last night except thar he is in the furniture business at g..
 OO2 Webster avenue, the Bronx. The
 store at that address is listed in tht
 city directory as "Panken & O., (No
 vie Panken.)"
 Mrs Panken lived at Ss1 East 177t1
 street, the Bronx. Judge Jacob Pan
 ken likewise lived there, and it wa!
 said Movie also makes his home
 tl ere. Judge Panken could not bt
 reached last night. At the home i
 was said he had been sent for, bu
 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 amons
 radicals all over the city, being z
 fiery speaker given to denouncing tho
 "autocracy," which he charges hal
 grown up in America since the war.