The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-03-03
THE PAwELsKI FAMILY.
The Story of their Wrongs.
The ISLANDERS Against Philadelphia
Completely Refuted-Full Re
port OF the Official tI
Investigation.

''The emigrants arrived in Milwaukee after
having, as it was said endured the greatest
indignities in Philadelphia, while on their
route to the West from the old country. The
family, consisting of father, mother, two
small boys, and three daughters, from six
teen to twenty years of age, landed In Phila-
delphia, having tickets to Milwaukee, but no
money. They were obliged to remain in this
city over night, and they found shelter in a
small room attached to low immigrant
house, and here they crowded together, eat
ing of the stale bread they had brought with
them. In the morning the cut-throat who
owned the house demanded of the Prussian
fifteen dollars for the lodgings of the party,
but the poor man had no money and could
not pay the exorbitant bill. Threats were
made of imprisonment, but they were use
less, and then the sharks took all the baggage
of the party, consisting of three large boxes
filed with household goods, etc.
'This the family pleaded for but could not
get, and they were compelled to start West
without it. But the sharks were not ready
to let them go. AS the Prussian was about
leaving for the cars they came upon him
again, and took the three daughters away,
saying they had authority from the police
TO do this, and should hold the girls until
the $l5 was paid, and this, notwithstand-
ing the fact that they had property worth
several hundred dollars belonging to the
family there.
''The poor old man was nearly heart-broken
now. He did not know what to do. He
dared not move, for he was told by those who
represented themselves as police, that if he
did not pay the $15 by noon of that day, they
would take his wife and the other children
and lock them up. All that day the old man
went about the city trying to find his daugh-
ters who had been taken away from him, but
it was useless search, and out of money,
nearly out of provisions, he was compelled to
leave them behind him and come on to his
journeys end. 1t is evident that the sharks
had but one object in view with these un-
fortunates; to send them to some den of in
fanny. No other fate can be hoped for them.
1.-The old man arriving in Milwaukee in the
greatest distress, told his story, and found
ready listeners Louis Reidt, kind-hearted
gentleman of the south side, took the affidavit
of the family, and learned the particulars of
the outrage"
The affidavit, with other papers, was
forwarded to this city and an examina-
ton was held, conducted by the Governor,
the Mayor, and the German Society. Various
accounts have been published as the result of
this examination, but they are all very i'm
perfect We give below the full official re-
port of the investigation
MILWAUKEE, Wis, Feb. 10, 1870.
To HIS Epceleacy tile GooernOr Of tile State
Of Pennsylvania, Harrisburg.
The undersigned Notary Public respect
fully takes leave to forward to your Excel
lency the here annexed affidavit about the
Powelski family, and petitions your Excel
leney to order the necessary searches to be
made by the proper officers, and to punish
the malefactors.
He further shows that Michael Pawelski
sent different letters to John Maier of Chesa-
beck, bal never has got an answer. That the
undersigned also wrote two letters to said j.
Maier, but has remained up to this moment
without reply.
That the undersigned further sent the affi-
davit even in the German language to the
Commissioners of German Emigration in
Philadelphia, but without success or infor-
nation.
That on the 18th of January, 1870, the
undersigned sent second letter to the Com
missioners of Emigration at Philadelphia,
and renewed his petition made on the 2lst
day of December, 1869, when he forwarded
the affidavit, but no answer was given, not
withstanding he observed to the said COM
missioners that M. Pawelski would make a
complaint to his Excellency the Governor of
Pennsylvania.
That the undersigned leaves all further pro-
eeedings to your Excellency, and petitions for
kind notice.
Respectfully, your very obedient servant,
LOUIS RIEDT,
Notary Public, Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
The foregoing petition endorsed as fol,
lows
EXECUTIVE CHAMBER, HARRISBURG, January
y, 7O.-Respectfull referred to the Mayo
of the city of Philadelphia, with request tina
he investigate these allegations, and report tC
the writer and also to the undersigned.
JOHN w. GEARY, Governor.
STATE OF PENNSYLVANIA, OFFICE OF TIL
SECRETARY OF THE COMMONWEALTH, HARRIS
BURG, Pa, Feb. ~, 1S70-rHon. d. M. Fox
Mayor of Philadelphia Sir:-By direc
tion of the Governor have the honor to sen(
you the enclosed communication. Yours
truly, f. JORDAN, Sec. Commonwealth.
February II, 1S70.-Sr:-I have the homo
to acknowledge the receipt per hands of Hon
Il. Jordan. Secretary of the Commonwealth
of an affidavit and petition from a Polisl
family named Pawelski, setting forth certain
impositions said to have been practised upoi
them in this city, the scattering of their chill
dren and mysterious absence, and prayin.
your Excellencys kind assistance in tn,
premises, the allegations being sworn to be