A Pathetic Incident

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Feb 13, 1908

A Pathetic Incident

POLICE courts are often the scenes of tragic incidents, but never did a court witness one more pathetic than that which occurred in Judge Newcomer's court in Chicago. Edward Wells, forty-five years old, was arrested, charged with stealing three brass journals from the Illinois Central Railroad. Wells pleaded guilty. “No work,” he said, “and a wife and two children.” The judge was about to pass sentence, when, from the back of the room, a little girl, nine years old, arose and walked steadily down the aisle between the rows of benches, past attorneys and blue-coated policemen, and

stopped in front of the judge. “This man is my father. You are not going to send him to jail, are you?” she asked in firm tones, staring wide-eyed at the court.

Judge Newcomer did not reply to her question, and the State’s attorney, who had pleaded for the man’s imprisonment, turned away. The girl and her father were left standing alone before the fount of justice.

“My father will never steal again,” the child continued, “I will promise you that. I will take care of him and help him to get work, if you will let him go. I will go all over the city with him, and we will find something for him to do. My mama is sick at home, so I had to come to tell you why it was my father stole.”

Judge Newcomer fumbled nervously with a penholder on his desk. “If I let your papa go this time, do you think you could keep him from ever stealing again?” he asked.

“Why, I know I could,” said the child, in quick surprise. “I will teach him that it is wrong to steal. I will tell him that he can not be my father if he steals.”

“Little one,” said the judge, after a moment, “I believe you can do your father more good than the penitentiary. I shall parole him to you, and you must be responsible for his conduct. He should be proud of having such a daughter, and I hope he will never forget this day.”

The two went out together, the little girl of nine the official guardian of her father. The next day she wrote Judge Newcomer the following touching letter:—

“DEAR MR. JUDGE: O, how glad I was when you said, ‘Well, Essie, you can take your papa home, and take care of him.’ Mr. Judge, I am so happy that you let him go, ’cause you know, judge, if your father was behind the bars and had to live on bread and water, with your mama sick, you would not be very happy. I am going with him to see if Mr. Handley will not take him back to work. I hope all of your New-year days will be as happy as mine. I know they will, for you are such a good man. Good-by; from a friend to a friend. “ESSIE WELLS.”

—Northwestern Christian Advocate.