Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1959-02-25
CampaneIId's
ifeDep|ores
Son S Publicity

Son Publicity
NEW YORK, Feb. 25 (AP) -
Roy Campanella's wife protest.
ed today that delinquency
charges against their l5-year-
old son have been blown out
OF proportion because. of his
name"
She said that the former
major league baseball star lis
sick over these incidents"
Mrs, Ruthe Campanella made
the comments to a reporter as
she arrived at Queens County
Childrens Court with the boy,
David. for a hearing on a
charge that he and another
youth broke into a drugstore.
The case was adjourned to
March II and the boy was
ordered to post $1,000 cash bail
or $4,000 in security bonds.
At hearing yesterday David
was found guilty of participant
ing in street fight. and re-
leased in custody of his mother.
Police said the boy later ad-
mitted taking SO and some
cigarettes II days ago from the
drugstore, in the company of
a friend, George Delmos, 16.
The shop proprietor, Daniel
Statesman, said $500 was taken.
Denies Theft Charge
Young Delmos is still being
sought.
Asked by a reporter about
his alleged admission of theft,
David said:
They say lot of things
that aren't so. Why should 1
break into a store when l had
a hundred dollars"
At this point his mother
interrupted his further COM
ment.
Mrs. Campanella said she
and her husband might send
him David away to paro-
chial school but plans aren't
final" David has been attend
ing l0th-grade classes in
private school in Queens.
Referring to the theft charge, .
the mother said:
The boy did not hold any,
body up. 1t wasn't a stickup.
The other thing was only a
fist fight. 1t hasn't been easy
for the boy. Everything has
been blown out of proportion
because of his name.
Last night he went to his
father and told him he was
sorry he had brought such
shame on the family. He knows
how hard his father worked
to keep youngsters out of trou-
Die. He knows how his father
has been hurt"
Mrs. Campanella said she
had never been told that on
several occasions David had
been warned for lettering in
stores and for playing ball in
the street.
L didn't do anything" COM
mented the boy. Il was lust
IN the stores at different times"
8 Roy Campanella, partially
paralyzed in an auto accident
a year ago, was shocked by
developments.
The boys my boy" he said
at his home. Il got to try to
help him when he gets messed
up. tried to help as much
as l could with juvenile delin-
quency and here's my boy that
Jumped off the track"
Young Campanella came I'D
on the juvenile burglary charge
before Domestic Relations
Judge Wilfred A. Waltemade
who heard the previous COM
plant against him.
Street Fight Involved
Judge Waltemade convicted
the boy following police charges
that David and young Delmos
took part with others in a street
fight Monday.
The Judge paroled David to
his mother with this warning:
If YOU get in further trouble
and are returned to Children's
Court, you have my word. boy.
you will be dealt with very
severely"
The Judge told David that.his
father is IAN idol of the Amer
lean public"
Campanella was one of the
first Negroes to enter MAJOR
league baseball. His playing
career ended when he was in
jured in an auto accident in
January, 1858.
The former catcher long has
been active in the fight on jul
venile delinquency and has
worked actively with young
sters.
When David returned home
last night Campanella said, he
told the boy:
Look. I've scrimped and
worked hard for you. Now look
at all the shame that you've
brought to your mother and
me and your brothers and your
sister.
It's a lucky thing for you
that I'm in a wheelchair."
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