, 1921-09-24

Pleading tho plight OF her son n
mothers fidelity. which can see no
wrong in her own child. but has
ready excuses for his reported
wrong doinss. Mrs. II. Il. Erickson.
yesterday appeared At The Tribune
office to enlist the support OF this
paper.
Joseph Erickson. alias John john
son.. N son Is being held at chey-
enne by government authorities
charged with forging his name to a
money order for $50. II is for this
son. whose brave service W tn Uncle
Sans forces during the var won
him distinction, and gave his moth
er n trophy which she proudly dis
plays victory mcdai-thnt the
mother is pleading.
This is the story Of her sons
wrong doings as she related them:
The son. then a a OF Is years.
ran away from Casper at the first
outbreak OF hostiiities between the
United States and Germany BY
lying about his age he was admitted
to army service. joining h colors
at jefferson Barracks, Mo.
He served faithfully and well dur
ing war time. He was wounded
and gassed in the Argonne while
carrying on with thousands OF other
American heroes who turned the
tide OF defeat and swept the back
waters on German soil.
Spending the remainder OF the
war period in a hospital in France,
the lad was invaded back 70 Amer
lea with some OF the early contin-
gents. After he had sufficiently re-
covered he was returned to civil life
n hero. bearing an honorable dts
charge with citations for his serv-
ice.
Basking in the glory OF the vic
torious American people he again
donned tho American uniform. this
time seeking enlistment in the
coast artillery. lie was given n so
day furiough which time he spent
in Casper with his mother. who
olss out q meager existence doing
domestic work.
Willing TO sacrifice her own wei
being in order that her hero sons
aspirations might be fulfilled. Mrs
Erickson babe God speed to her sol
on his return to the colors.
II was upon his return that his
N1eltA DtEal ~ oAtdDpt1Is AAirAthh
OF being assigned to tho coast artil-
lery he was again ordered TO report
10 cavalry contingents on the Afexi-
can border. He gamely took the or
der but life soc became wearl-
some and the lad deserted the flag.
the flaming emblem for which he
had once fought n bled.
Returning Immediately to Chey-
cnne he enlisted again and this time
was attached to the Fifteenth cav
airy. the permanent garrison at Fort
Russell. When he enlisted it was
under tho name OF John Il. John
son. He said that he had returned
to be near his mother who 5 OF adj
vanced age.
1t was not long before records
were compared and Il was found
that the Johnson of Cheyenne and
the desorter Of tho borderAvcrc ono
and tho samo person.
The boy was courtmartialcd and
after the trial sentenced TO serve a
period OF 1.-Two Years in the govern
ment penitentiary at Fort Lcaven-
worth, Kan,
Saving every penny that she was
able to get from her ~,c.as here.
Mrs. Erickson. after taking advan-
tage of every other alternative fin
ally went TO Washington where she
was able TO enlist President Hard
ing's sympathy and the boy was
pardoned.
1t was some time before the boys
pardon was exercised, but he had
served but a comparatively few
months of his sentence. That is
the strict arm OF militarism. The
n time hero had been punished for
leaving q branch of the service to
join another. 1t was n fraudulent
enlistment the court found.
As the boy stepped from the pris-
on gates at Leavenworth he was re-
arrested and returned to Cheyenne
where he must again face a court
martial court. this time charged
with forgery of a $50 government
money order.
Again hearing OF her sons plight
after h had secured the highest
clemency in the land tho mother
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