The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1877-07-13
PabHIc CHARITY.

Z. EdiIoCs winch wish to explain. AS
to Mr.. Baker stopping with Mr.. Elliot
l have no doubt, but as to Baker de-
serving pity, or being case of charity,
have some doubt. / will give q short
history of said Baker, since last tall.
Some time in the fore part of the win
ter he came to my house; he got here
about 8 o'clock in the evening; l was
bed. / got up and heard his story
and thought as did Mr.. Elliot, that he
was subject of charity, for he said he
had been very badly treated at the
poor farm, and poorly fed, and also the
language was bad that they used to
him, as he was very peacable man,
did no one any harm; also, he wanted
some clothes. I examined his ward
robe and found it was not bad, but l
told him when the Board of County
Commissioners met, l would see what l
could do Tor him, as ny heart was
touched at his simple and innocent app
pearance. gave him a nights lodg-
ing, supper and breakfast. At our
next meeting he was there, and there
L learned more of the man. l learned
he was unmanageable at the poor farm
and Mr.. Lockerd was compelled to have
him brought down to the goal, and he
was kept there short time. He broke
the door in the farm house with a rock,
and Mr.. Lockerd would not under any
circumstances, take him back, and he
(Baker) said If he could GO to Missouri,
as he had friends there, he would not
trouble Lyon county any more; so he
was sent there at the county's expense.
but was sent back soon after, and the
next / heard of him he was back on
the Poor Farm again /; had had a spasm,
and fell in the fire and got burned, and
wanted more clothes. We thought he
was comfortable for the present, as he
had change of cloting. On the night
in question he came to my house about
shutdown, with complaint. / heard
him through, told him his place was the
Poor Farm, and asked him about his
food. He said he had meat twice a
day, and tea and coffee twice a day,
and that he had beans, and mush and
milk but he said he did not eat beans,
neither did he eat mush and milk
and he had found flies in the molasses,
also in the beans. I told him 1 was
fond of meat and beans, but could not
satisfy linn. When he was here last
winter I told him not to come again, If
he did would not entertain him; so
said, you know what said about COM
ing here again. He said he did. 1
told him he had better be going, if he
was going to the Poor Farm that night.
He did not seem to understand me, so
l told him again. This time empha-
sized some, and he then seemed to
understand and went away. The truth
is he is fraud. He will not be salts
fled unless the county gives him new
suit of clothes, also pocket knife, and
then allow him to board at the Wind
sors and sit on and white dry goods
boxes, and then he will complain.
AS to his changing his clothes, Che has
a change of clothes,) any able-bodied
man who will not change his clothes
and wash himself for six months,
ought to be tied to post and whipped.
And then to think said Baker was q
subject of charity because the Co. Com
missioners had not washed and dressed
him, it is too bad. he being a strong
man, (and if any one thinks he is not
an able-bOdied man let him ask Mr..
Lockerd). think he needs censuring,
and think he would get it from Mr..
Elliott if he had known as much of
him as did, If he had had to hire a
cheap sinner to do it for him, as he is
not used to it himself.
And, Mr.. Editor, 1 wish to rise and
explain another SUBJECT. l heard,
when was in EmpOria last, that Mr..
Gilmore bull-dozed Mr.. Truitt into the
SUPPLEMENTARY of the Poor Farm.
l wish to say that we advertised for
sealed bids for that position, and on
the day of opening said bids there was
only one bid, that being from Mr..
Lockerd, and he had been getting 1915
per week tor each pauper over one
year old. This was his previous con-
tract, and he had been giving two doll
lars per acre for the use of said farm,
and his new bid was the same with
this difference; he wanted, in addition,
$4,000 as Superintendent's salary, and
ha vOuId oivo onl1 81 M m Co. ,,eo ~
farm. asked him if he would not
contract the same as before. He said
he would not. We rejected his bid,
and in consultation it was agreed that 1
should endeavOr to get a man, as / had
two men in view near here, and the
salary was agreed upon. This was on
Friday. On Saturday Mr.. Truitt came
here, said Mr.. Gilmore told him the
farm was not let, and he thought if
he could get it he would do so. Said
he had thought of putting in bid, but
Mr.. Lockard was his neighbor, and he
did not want to bid against him but
as he was not going to get it, he
thought he would try. I got him pen
and paper and told him to write down
his proposition, and he did SO; and as
thought his proposition would be ac-
cepted, I would give my consent, and
he and Mr.. Gilmore could fix it up
without my presence, as it would save
the expense of nay days work; and
will say Mr.. Truths proposition was
so much better than 1 was authorized
70 give, that 1 readily to It,
and wrote the same on it to Mr.. Gill
more. / think this due to Mr.. Gilmore,
as he acted more than honorable, as he
always has done since made his ac-
quaintance as Commissioner.
L. A. WooD. Co. Com.