Sampson, C. W., aged 70, was admitted to the alms house after having served ten days in the workhouse for vagrancy. He was in feeble health, afflicted with cancer of the nose, and his clothing was in tattered condition.
He declared himself homeless. From his statement when admitted to the almshouse, it appeared that he had five children, one son who was a teacher, unmarried, and four married daughters, one of whom was a widow. His wife, Mrs. Sampson, lived with one of these daughters. He has one daughter supported by her husband, who' is himself in Austria. A third lives in Brooklyn with her husband, who is a printer, and two children, while the fourth daughter, the widow, had acquired her father's business and was living in a brownstone-front house in 'Brooklyn.
The children were seen and all refused to contribute to their father's support. His wife, to whom his property had been originally made over, likewise refused to receive him. The corporation counsel was asked to take up the case against them, whereupon representatives of the fam ily agreed to pay three dollars a week to the depart ment of public charities for Mr. Sampson's support, on condition that suit should be withdrawn. This offer was accepted, the fund was allowed to accumulate for a short time in order that there might be enough to supply Mr. Sampson with suitable outfit of clothing. He was then discharged, and is now living upon the amount provided by the family.
Sharp, James, was committed to the almshouse three years ago, and has remained during that time a charge upon the state. A fellow-inmate divulged the fact that this was an assumed name, and gave the superintendent his correct name. This led to an investigation from which it was discovered that Sharp has a wife and children living in the city. One son is the general manager of an impor tant business in Brooklyn, and was desirous of providing for his father. It appeared that he has a mania for get ting admitted to institutions under assumed names, mak ing it impossible for the family to locate him.
Nelson, Charlotte, widow of a physician, respected and successful in the practice of his profession. Mrs. Nelson is, however, of a crotchety disposition, scarcely mentally responsible, although adjudged to be not insane. When
first known to the society, some years after her husband's death, she had been living at a woman's lodging-house, but had acted queerly, and having no money was asked to leave. No relatives were found able to assist her, and although persons were found who remembered her hus band, there was no one upon whom she had any special claim. She has one son of a roving, shiftless, and irre sponsible character, a musician by occupation, but scarcely able to earn his own support, although full of visionary schemes for caring liberally for himself and his mother. Mrs. Nelson was aided to the extent of $50 in the form of rent and food, but she met with several accidents, and after treatment in a public hospital, as it was not deemed safe for her to be left to herself, she was transferred to the almshouse.
A fortnight later, however, money was obtained through a newspaper appeal for her care in a private institution, where, at the date of this writing, she had remained for two years. Here she had a private room and special consideration, but was chronically dissatisfied, and was constantly writing, and encouraging her son to write, complaining letters to persons who might possibly be in duced to aid her in other ways.
Caspar, Mary. About eleven years ago, Mrs. Caspar, who was then a widow supporting her old mother, took into her home her sick sister, Mrs. Manning, and her two small children, Julia and Katherine. Mrs. Manning had a worthless husband and had, for some time, supported herself and children. Mrs. Caspar was then employed in a restaurant at eight dollars a week, in which place she worked for about ten years, her hours being from 7 A.M. to 4 P.M. Her work was really done in a cellar kitchen. It was entered from the restaurant above, and the only ventilation possible was from a window over the stairs. Mrs. Caspar also did office cleaning from which she earned three dollars a week ; and, not satisfied with this double employment, brought home each week some towels to wash. After an illness of five months, Mrs. Manning died from consumption. Her husband lived in the neigh borhood, but at no time contributed anything toward the support of the family. He soon after died in one of the public hospitals.