Evening Republican, Volume 16, Number 291, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 6 December 1912 — SYMPATHETIC JURORS HELPED ELDER LAD [ARTICLE]

SYMPATHETIC JURORS HELPED ELDER LAD

.* - - Nine-Year-Old Sen of Mrs. Cftgrfes Elder Outfitted From Head to :• Foot On His Birthday. r • r One of the pathetic things that occurred during ,the trial of Charles Elder for desertion was tpe testimony of his little son, Kenneth, who was put on the stand by Attorney Leopold, for the state. .Kenneth is a bright-eyed and keen-witted little chap, quite small for his years. He was asked if he had ever written to his father and he replied: “Yes, but he never ans-. xvered my letter.” “How old are you, Kenneth?” asked one of the attorneys. “Eight years old, I’ll be nine tomor>row,” said the 1 little fellow as it just seemed to dawn on him that his birthday was close at hand/’ Every juror was ready to cry during the .time the lad Was 6n the witness stand and there was no sympathy for the father who had left, the little ones for. two and a half years and failed to make adequate support for them. Bill Ervin, the court, bailiff, has not shed any tears for a long time. He has seen a lot. of trying things during his life, but Little Kenneth’s testimony was about all he £ould stand. He noticed that the lad had on shabby clothing and worn-out shoes and he determined to see .that he was togged out in good shape. Accordingly .he started out with a subscription paper and it was not long before he had secured $18.50, each of t.heMurymen contributing!™ The money was placed in the hands of Mrs. C, A. Roberts, who took the hoy with -he** to the -stores Thursday, that being his birthday and bought him a new suit of clothes new shoes, a new cap and mittens and handkerchiefs and after he was all togged out she took him to the court house to let the jurymen see him. They again started a shower of nickleg and he had almost a dollar and a half given him at that time. As Mrs. Roberts was taking him away from the court house she asked: “Kenneth, what are you going to do with your money?’ He answered, “Well, I guess I will get a new axe handle, we’ve broke ours.” * Mrs. Roberts had something like $lO left and this was deposited in a local bank and Will be used for the family according to their needs.