The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1924-05-13
CELIA AND EDDIE LEAD SOB
CHORUS AS N. Y. WEEPS
OVER THEIR DEPARTURE.
GUN-GIRL ALREADY FORGIVEN
Old Mother Who Taught Her to Beg
And Made Her Sleep in Coal Holes
Among the Lachrymose Throng,
Who Caught the Dramatic Spirit.

NEW YORK, N. View York,
which howled for the head of the bob
haired gun-girl few weeks ago, had
an emotional reaction and a sousing
good cry Thursday as Celia Cooney,
the slight, 20-year-old human scrub,
parted from her husband, Eddie, at
Raymond street Jail
Both are bound to prison for from
to 20 years. the length of time de-
pending on their behavior, she to Au-
| burn where the feminine yeggs are
| kept, and he to the country club, as
| his associates in. the Brooklyn speak
easies and pool rooms affectionately
refer to Sing Sing prison with its
movies, its ball games, Broadway
shows and pleasant menu.
Tears Are Plentiful.
Celia cried Eddie, who cruelty shot
man during one of their family rob-
! berry expeditions, blubbered in self
pity; Celia's mother, Mrs. Roth, who
sent the girl out begging as child
and utterly neglected her throughout
her growing years, caught the dra-
matte spirit of the occasion and spray
ed herself with belated tears.
Warden Honeck, of Raymond street
Jail, had to lay firm hands on his emo
tions as the crowd in the street yelled
Goodbye, Celia-and good luck"
And through the newspapers which
became somewhat 1achrymose at the
last moment with the assurance that
Celia actually was going to prison for
her misconduct, the entire city enjoy
ed thoroughly sopping day. As an
outlet for mass emotion, it was as
good as East Lynne.
Got "Murderess' Courtesy.
Celia couldn't have received more
elaborate privilege and courtesy if
she had been beautiful and cultured
murderess awaiting acquittal, instead
of rough-mannered, ill-favored little
stray awaiting transportation to pris-
on. The warden and jailers seemed
embarrassed and apologize because
they had to invite Celia, Eddie and
members of Ce1ia's family into the
plainly furnished office for their adeiuX
Almost from the day that Celia was
born the mothers attitude toward her
had been one of unconcern, so the
probation office of the Brooklyn coun-
ty court reported to Judge Martin af-
ter a long investigation of the family.
For four years the aged and gnarled
Mrs. Roth had not even seen Celia.
Tuesday she was in court as the cou-
pie were sentenced but Celia refused
to recognize her Thursday again she
crept from the wretched one-room
howell in an east side basement where
she and pop Roth now reside. and
went to Raymond street jail to say
goodbye to her little girl.
Too Late to Do Much Now.
your mothers here" Warden
Honeck said tentatively, not knowing
whether Celia wished to see her. Celia.
indicated that it would give her pleas
ure so Mrs. Roth was led to the cell
and the warden stood back for fifteen
minutes, returning to find the strange
old woman sitting on the bunk. with
Celia's head in her lap.
Write while you're away Celia,
said the old lady as she wen down the
shadowy corridor IF there's any
thing we can do for you, let us know"
! But the mother is wretchetlly poor
and there probably is little that she
can do for Celia now although She
might have done much for her when
| she had the chance, 10 or IS years ago.
A little while later Honeck escorted
Celia to his office where she consulted
with her sister May, and Mays hus-
band, while the mother waited out
| side on a bench, her gray head Sage
,, ing on her bosom, her gray misty eyes
gazing vacantly, perhaps into the past
when, the probation report said, she
let Celia sleep in coal-holes.
Her Roll Turned Over.
Next came the attendants from Au-
burn prison, a man and a woman,
whom Celia was not well pleased to
meet. although she evinced no HOSTILE
ty. Honeck went to the safe and got
Celia's roll of $780, left from the
Isl 900 which she received for her first
venture into honest literature, the
story OF her life She had spent $50
for flesh-colored stockings and other
fxings of her court costume to look
her best before the Judge She gave
Honeck $3.50 for Eddie and the Au-
burn attendant took the rest to keep
for her.
At last Eddie was brought in. He
stopped The officers turned away,
Eddie rushed into clinch and both
bodies swayed with sobs.
It'll be long, long time; long,
long time" Cooney moaned. He then
Strengthened up, I'VE got to make the
best of it." he said.
1--WE got to, Ed" Celia agreed, WHIP
ing her cheeks. @And the time amt
so long. Wen be together again, some
time, anyway" For few minutes
they talked in whispers and Honeck
at last said, "All right, Ed. Time to
60"
With fresh tears squirting down his
face Cooney was taken back to his
cell.
Celia will be taken away and then
New York will forget the bob-haired
bandit who had been more than for
given already for terrorizing the town
with her pistol.