Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-10-17
Grief in Roster Home
on EUe of Her Trial

Continued from PAGE One
but never the mind. She spoke almost
tersely, but second later Junior was
looking wonderingly up into her eyes.
What are you crying for, Granny!'
! he asked.
"Why. why granny has troubles,
dear she answered in voice that
was in second quite cheerful. why
we haven't any bread, Junior. I think
maybe you'd better run for bread, like
a good boy"
When the little boy ilad run out into
| the sunshine. Mrs. Reid, with eyes
hollow and truthful. spoke directly of
her daughter: trying, as a mother
would, to find excuses for this woman
who abruptly ended two lives with pistol
shots.
"What does this, last day mean to
her? How is it finding her? Glad at
last that her day has come, hoping
tremulously that she will be released,
but still-still broken hearted. She
loved that man, you know; she was
crazy over him. She is sorry, full OF
remorse.
81 know she was not herself or she
could not have done such G thing
She has worried even up to the last
moment that the trial would be post
poned again. Her one thought is to get
home to her baby. The last words she
said to me were, Kiss baby and Junior
and Robert for me. and tell them l
want to come home so that we can all
be happy together Oh. she has wor-
ried so that the trial might be postponed
again and every time have gone to see
her she has begged for some news that
would hearten her.
"When Clara Woodward, who shared
her. and she has taken little interest
in trying to bear up and look all right
for the trial. She fixed up her black
dress and I'm making her wear her
sealskin coat and the little black hat
she wore to the inquest.
'And-and this morning Junior asked
il he could bring mother n bouquet
There was a silence here and then
suddenly the words which had been
spoken haltingly came in a torrent.
"Oh. tried to do my best for my
children. When my boys were marrying I
said: Boys. get good girls: don't think
Of their looks, get real girls. and they
did--bOth my boys did. Catherine was
always good girl. but nowadays young
people are too quick at making ac-
Quaintances. too quick at rushing into
She ran away, you know,
but forgave her. of course.
There was n quick mother smile here.
"She was MY only girl, you see.
guess-I guess, like all mothers. my
heart was sort of bound up in her.
Richard. Mrs. Rosters year old baby,
was creeping on the floor now. A beau
tiful baby. he was indulging in the
divine right of babies--playing with q
pan and n spoon.
The grandmother bending under a
strain which her husband and sister.
who are now with her, say is almost
breaking her, paused. The baby cried
n little and wanted to be taken up.
''God love him." she said holding him
very close. Then her voice was quite
calm again.
There is one more thing my
She needs me so. That will be some
time today. Little Junior would like to
90 to the trial. but do not know do !
not know. His message to Catherine is
Tell mother to come home.
At the Reckitt home. 2425 West
street. sorrow has struck
with q heavy hand, too. Here was
spent the girlhood and young woman
hood. too. of Mildred Reckitt. stenog-
lapher for Oscar Roster. who was shot
to death with him by Mrs. Roster.
Broken in health, Mrs. Reckitt was
sent to Wildwood early in the summer.
Her husband has joined her there. and
will bring her back to Philadelphia this
evening. 1t is doubtful. however, that
Mrs. Reckitt will attend the trial. She
herself breads the strain, according
10 her daughter, Mrs. Edna Wester-
burg. who is keeping house at the tidy
little home in North Philadelphia.
Mrs. Westerburg broke down frankly
in discussing the pending trial this
I'VE believe in my sisters innocence.
We believe in it.
Other than that she would make no
statement