Evening Republican, Volume 59, Number 85, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 1 May 1917 — HAPPENINGS in the CITIES [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

HAPPENINGS in the CITIES

Real and Foster Father in Fight for Boy KANSAS CITY. — Willie Platz, a tow-haire.d boy fifteen years old, was arrested at Tenth and Oak streets while he was cranking another man’s car—-and thereby he found a father. Fred E. Robertp stepped from the Y. M«

C. A. building and found the boy apparently about to make off. “What are you doing?” Roberts asked. The boy seemed confused and was unable to explain, so Roberts called two officers, The boy was taken to police headquarters for investigation. There, in the matron’s room, he told an inconsistent story of a man who asked him to start his car while he stepped into a nearby store for a minute. A bunck of keys to motor-

car locks was taken from the pocket of his knee trousers, and he admitted he knew how to run a car, but denied he Intended either to steak or to go joy riding. “Where do you live?” the matron asked. “I live with Frank Platz. 215 Benton boulevard. But,” he added, “he’s not my father. I’ve never seen either my father or mother.” Investigation pro. ed the lad was correct. Fourteen and a half years ago, according to the story told by Mr. Platz, a well-dressed man came to the Plats home late one winter night and engaged them to keep his baby for two weeks. He never gave his name or his reason, other than that the child s mother and he had disagreed. He paid two weeks’ board for the baby and promised to return for it, but he never came. Willie —that’s the name Mr. and Mrs. Platz gave their adopted child—grew both In size and in their affections. They never tried to find his father until a few months ago, when they made some investigations and believed that they had discovered the father living at 3616 Gladstone boulevard. The man’s name was John Cavanaugh and they supposed him to be master of the big house. A reporter found Cavanaugh was only an employee, the houseman. When told his boy was in custody at police headquarters he exclaimed: “What! My boy?” “Yes. Haven’t you a son?” . “Yes, I have," Cavanaugh said, “but I have not seen him for more than fourteen years, although I knew where he was.” Cavanaugh promised to go to juvenile court and help his son, but Mr. Platz said he would do everything in his power to keep possession of the child he had reared, and whom he considers as belonging to him.

Hindoo Will “Load Down” Bride With Jewels OMAHA- — A mysterious Hindoo prince with a casket of jewels worth $1,000,000 —one of the jewels being a priceless pearl necklace —was married in Omaha recently and is now en route to India, his bride and jewels with him.

The casket was so valuable that while its owner was in Omaha it was kept in the vaults of the First National bank, and when the prince and his wife started for the Orient an attorney stood guard over the treasure all the _ way to Sah Francisco. The prince had become Anglicized, was educated in England, and has taken the English name of Peter E. C. Paul. His home is in the hill country north of Calcutta. The jewels were in Baltimore and were brought to

Omaha by Edward P. Snflth, an Omaha attorney. The marriage license was issued to Paul and Miss Lu tfesa Widenga of Sioux City, la., and the marriage was performed at the Greek Orthodox church in Omaha by Rev, Gust Harvalis, pastor. On the trip" to San Francisco the jewelry was guarded by Attorney Warren Howard of Omaha, who is in Smith’s law office. When the prince arrived in Omaha he was on a stretcher. He was taken to the Fontenelle hotel and was given a suite of rooms. Here he denied himself to everyone. When reporters, attracted by the name “Calcutta” on the marriage license books, attempted to see him they were politely and firmly denied admission. A trained nurse met them at the door, smiled, and said, “Good morning. Nothing doing.” The great pearl collar was- the most valuable of the jewels. In addition, there were diamonds, in finger rings, in pins, and in ornaments; and there were rubies and emeralds and a mass of Oriental stones and jewels. The prince met Miss Widenga in Austin, Tex. The $1,000,000 worth of jewels was given to the bride immediately after the ceremony, and she was told, It is said, that when she reached India the prince would load her down with jewels.

Near Riot Followed Eqjing of “Forbidden Fruit” BOSTON. —Mrs. Levine ate an onion. The other night the meeting of the Malden Mothers’ league In Bryant hall was converted into a hair-pulling session and almost ended in a riot as a result. As Eve partook of the forbidden fruit in the garden so did Mrs.

Levine allow a gnawing desire for an onion to cause her to fall from grace In the Mothers’ league. F6r, be it known, the delectable and detectable onion Is among the forbidden “fruits” In the present boycott. If Mrs. Levine had not been one of the important pickets in the siege of grocers her indiscretion might not have assumed such alarming proportions. But when she publicly confessed that the call of the onion had proved irre-

slstible her apology proved poor balm for the wounded feelings of her dumfounded compatriots. A commotion followed, during which cries of sympathizers to the effect of, “Have a heart; maybe an onion’s her weakness,” only served to enrage the feelings of others. The matter was finally arbitrated along the lines of every woman having a weak moment at least once in her life and of the irresistible qualities of the Impressive and fragrant onion. From now opt IftMalden, if Willie Jones’ breath smells of onions then Jimmy Smith’s back is closed to him.

Faithful Subway Mule Retires as Pensioner NEW YORK. —It isn’t at all likely that the public will care a rap, but Dick Croker has gone into and come out of the subway for the last time. He’s retired. Dick Croker is the stable name for a bay mule in the contracting

outfit of Degnon & Co., He was named after the old Tammany boss because he had a constitution of iron and kept plugging aWay under several administrations. —— : ~ He was the first mule to engage la subway work, and in so far as it was possible, working as he did in the dark, he has seen all the subways constructed. Some time ago M. J. Degnon was informed by Dave Degnon, stable boss, that Dick was due to have a birthday.

“How old is her “Thirty years, by his teeth,” replied Dave. "Then it is time for him to retire and get something out of life,” said M. J. “Have him cut off the subway list and send him out to my place on Merrick road, where the oats are fine in winter and the grass is lush. From now on he’ll be a pensioner.” -- “That mule,” said Dave Degnon, “was the grandpap of the business. His side kick, Tom Platt, quit business six years ago. When a mule grows gray tn the business it Is time for him to quit.” # - " • ' ’