WHEN SON IS CONVICTED.
Aged Mother Faints in Court and
Begs for Death.
Mrs. Catherine Cavanaugh, an aged, white haired woman from Colorado City, Col., came to Kansas City several months ago because her son, M. G. Goodale, was under arrest charged with a serious crime. She talked with him daily and, mother like, was at once imbued with the thought that her son was innocent. She visited him often in the hope of soon seeing him free. The case was put off twice and Mrs. Cavanaugh's money gave out. Then she was compelled to seek shelter and care from a charitable institution, the Helping Hand institute.
She has been there now over two months, awaiting the day when her son would be free to go home with her and gladden her declining years. Yesterday the case went to trial and the faithful, always hopeful mother was present during it all. When the jury brought in a verdict of seven years in the penitentiary, Mrs. Cavanaugh fell back in a faint. When her son was led from the court room, she did not know it.
Deputy Marshal N. B. Olson went to her assistance and when she had revived started with her to the Helping Hand. "I have noting more to life for now," she told Olson, "for my son is dead, dead, dead. Let me go to the river and end it all."
Olson said that Mrs. Cavanaugh begged piteously to be taken to the river or even to be shown where it was. She tried in her feeble way to tear loose from him at one time and throw herself under a passing street car. At the Helping Hand last night Mrs. Cavanaugh, who is over 80 years old, was being closely watched.
The testimony on which Goodale was convicted was given by Mrs. Cavanaugh's own daughter, Goodale's sister. The charge was a statutory one.
