Dunn, Edward and Caroline. When Dunn called at the Application Bureau, at the suggestion of a church, he needed work and general assistance. Investigation showed the family to be drunken, quarrelsome, and shiftless. Their rooms had always been dirty and neglected. Mrs. Dunn had previously been married to a man whom she at first declared to have been killed in a quarrel, but whom she later said that she had sent to the state prison for bigamy. From the prison authorities it was learned that he had been twice committed, once for burglary, and once for perjury. Neither the father nor mother was disposed to work to support the children. One child was at the time living with Mrs. Dunn's mother, who also had a record of dependence under various aliases. The children should have been removed at this time for improper guardianship, but this result was not brought about.
About three years later Mrs. Dunn applied for the commitment of her son, stating that her husband had deserted soon after her former application, and was now living in a suburb with a married daughter. Later he was reported to be an inmate of the almshouse of the county in which the suburb is located. The child who had been with the grandmother died in an institution. The boy for whom she now desired commitment had previously been in the same institution, but was discharged on the ground that his parents could support him, and in the meantime his mother had changed his name to Montmorency. Temporary institutional care was secured for Montmorency in the hope that Mrs. Dunn would enter a hospital for treatment, which she later refused to do. She agreed, however, to the placing out of her child for adoption.
Way, Theodore. Investigation was asked by a private citizen, to whom Mr. Way had written, saying that he had been arrested and was in the " Tombs " awaiting trial. The complaint was that of passing a worthless check, drawn on a bank which was found not to exist. Mr. Way's story was that he had had business relations with persons whom he supposed to be reliable, and had been persuaded to deposit several hundred dollars with them. He later drew upon them for $50, which was obtained without diffi culty. He had then given a few checks for small debts to various people, but before these had been heard from he was asked to cash their check for $75. Not having the money he indorsed the check and took it to a liquor dealer, who cashed it. It was this check which had been returned as worthless, and had led to his arrest. Mr. Way claimed also that the city owed him $2000, his bill having been approved, but not paid. If he could collect this money he could pay the liquor dealor, who would then be willing to withdraW the charge.
At his father's death Mr. Way had inherited a large sum of money, which he had put into business and lost. His mother had still some valuable furniture, which had, however, been in storage for some time, and there was now danger of losing it, as payments were in arrears. He had but one near relative, an uncle who was a man of some prominence in politics and otherwise. This uncle would do nothing for Mr. Way, but was induced to provide board and money for the wife. A masonic lodge, to which the man belonged, also contributed for her support, but would do nothing for Mr. Way.
Six months after the letter had been received, Mr. Way was tried and found guilty; sentence, however, was sus pended, and he was discharged and was not again heard from. His wife, for the following year, was supported by relatives, who made their contributions for this purpose through the society.
If intemperance and other moral defects can seldom be remedied by material relief, still less can relief cure a strain of chronic dependence. Those to whom begging presents itself as the easiest solution of any even tem porary embarrassment, and who therefore prefer to beg rather than work, are perhaps of all dependents the most unresponsive and unhelpable. While a few illustrative
instances are here grouped together, it must be under stood, that by no means all of the individuals in these families are representatives of the begging class. Fami lies do not differentiate themselves so completely. The beggar is joined together with the drunkard, and the honest, industrious, and faithful mother may find herself cursed by a brutal husband or an ungrateful and worth less son. • The following instances are therefore all the more typical because they present complications both of good and of bad qualities, in addition to the strain of pau perism which appears to run through them.
Patrick, John and Anna. A church worker, several of whose earlier cases had turned out to be different from what the worker supposed them to be, but who had excused the misinformation supplied by saying that the families were under the charge of associate workers and not personally known to the one who had referred them, finally wrote as follows in regard to a family for whom a supply of coal was requested :— " Mr. Patrick is out of work. They were found sorely in need. A respectable couple with a child of four months. Everything has been pawned to get food. Plenty of room for coal. We are furnishing temporary aid in groceries. They have only one quilt on bed for their covering. No blankets. Everything has been pawned. Mrs. Patrick's health is run down so that the baby has not had proper nourishment. It is a worthy case, and I am glad I have the case under my personal supervision and attention. Mr. Patrick, I fear, has consumption. His cough seems suspicious. A bag of coal which I ordered will be suffi cient until to-morrow, and I would much appreciate an early delivery of coal to this couple of good habits." A visitor called at the address given, and Mrs. Patrick repeated the statement made in the letter which had been received. She said that her husband was consump tive and unable to do any work ; that she herself has a father and sister living, but that Mr. Patrick has no rela tives in the world. Mrs. Patrick was unable to explain why she was receiving aid from a church of a different denomination from that to which she said that she and her husband belonged, and in various ways she impressed the visitor that she had not been entirely straightforward and truthful in her statements. The usual inquiries were made at one or two houses in which the Patricks had for merly lived, and at one of these the housekeeper referred the visitor to a tenant who had lived in the house for some time, and therefore probably knew the Patricks. This woman said that she knew the Patricks well ; that Mr. Patrick had lived there with his mother before his marriage ; that he had been most brutal in his treatment of his old mother ; had beaten her regularly, and was continually bringing into the house disreputable women from the street ; that there was another woman living in the neighborhood who claimed to have been married to Patrick, and that finally he had been requested to leave the house because of his behavior ; that the woman with whom he was now living, known as Mrs. Patrick, had been with him only a short time before his removal, but that in this time he had beaten her frequently, on one occasion making it necessary for her to call in the police. This tenant believed that he was not a drinking man, but that he was thoroughly lazy and worthless ; that he was strong and well and able to work, but that he had always been able to find some woman who would support him.