When officers arrested Policarpo Benegas in 1909, he did not simply object to being taken to jail. He tried to bring his six-month-old baby with him.
Holding the crying infant tightly against his chest, Benegas declared that he would rather die than have the child taken from him.
The scene that followed in the sheriff’s office was tense and emotional. Benegas refused to hand the baby over, even to its mother. Attempts to calm him failed, and the situation became so difficult that Sheriff Lindsey and two deputies finally had to take the infant from his arms by force.
By the time Benegas was led away to jail, he was nearly in tears.
The newspaper gave no clear explanation for his actions. Officers were baffled. His wife could offer no reason.
Would Take Baby To Jail
SAN ANTONIO, Texas. — Declaring that he would rather die than have his child taken from him, Policarpo Benegas, arrested today on the charge of carrying a pistol, attempted to take his six months old baby to jail with him.
A dramatic scene took place in the sheriff’s office over the incident. Clasping the crying infant to his breast and assuming a defiant attitude, Benegas announced that only at the cost of his own life would he give up the child.
Attempts to calm him were unavailing and he refused even to hand over the baby to its mother.
Sheriff Lindsey and two deputies finally took the infant from him by force. Benegas was almost in tears when led off to jail.
No reason can be given by the officers or his wife for his strange action.
Source: Laredo Weekly Times. Laredo, Tex. January 10, 1909.
