Daily Republican., 1883-04-12
ACASE OF DISTRESS.
AN AGED COUPLE DEPRIVED OF
THEIR GOODS BY A
Ian DLORD.

Ian DLORD.
William Morris, aged SG years, an,
his wife aged ~, have for four year
past lived in two basement rooms of al
old tumble down frame shanty on Tat
nall street above Fifth, now owned b,
man named John MuIrooney, win
keeps q gin mill at the corner Of Fiftl
and Tatnall streets. Up to the first o
the year, the shanty was owned by i
man named Dngan. to whom the OLD
couple paid 81 month rent.
As they are both too old tn do any
thing towards their own support they
have for long time subsisted or
charity, and Bishop Becker has been
giving them 90 cents o week, which
they applied to the payment Of thei,
rent Last December they were notified
to vacate the premises on the 18th of
March, but as they had no place to 60
and were both sick, remained in the
miserable hole. Shortly after they
were visited by the landlord, who in
formed them that he had raised the
rent to 81 month, and they could
either pay that or move, and ifthcy did
not do one or the other he would pitch
them out.
Nothing further was done until Tues
day when Constable Springer entered
the place and seized what little furni-
tnre they possessed, and had it hauled
to Stidham' ) auction rO ON. Mr.. Std
ham, who was aware of the Circuin-
stances, refused to receive it, and it was
then hauled to an old building belong
ing to the humane landlord, where it IS
now stored away.
Everything belonging to the old cou.
pie was taken, and Tuesday night they
aid on the bare boards, which, in turn,
are laid on the ground. When the case
was made known yesterday, Eli Gro
zier, the old veteran, started out and
succeeded in obtaining a bedstead and
mattress with some little bed clothing
for these unfortunate people.
Some one brought them a couple of
chairs, and yesterday afternoon they
had lighted a fire in il furnace built in
the chimney, and were sitting huddled
together over it, The place is mis-
prable beyond description, and al
though the sun was shining brightly it
was impossible to see anything in the
back room where the bed is without
light. The yard is high, and this room
is nothing but a miserable damp cellar,
where these two old people are now
staying. There is a door at the foot of
the bed that opens into what look, like
acelar way, which is filled with dirt
and ashes, that rolled into the room
when the door was opened.
In the front part, which is as cheer
eSs as the other, there Is a small quanti
ty of coal on the floor, which Mrs. Nor
MS said the very humane landlord had
.lso threatened to seize The upper
part Of this building is tenanted by two
other families, and the whole establish
Ment shonld receive the immediate at
ention of the Executive Officers of the |
Board Of Health, for if the upper part
can be judged by the cellar where these
two old people live, it is certainly u
nuisance that shonld be abated wthout
delay.
Mr. and Mrs Morris both said that
Constable Springer behaved in u gentle
manly manner, and said that it was the
hardest job he had ever been called upon
TO perform. The old gentleman, whose
sight is very poor, says that some time
ago his landlord had a wagon drawn up
70 the curb, the shafts of which extern
led across the pavement AS he passed |
along he stumbled over them and fell,
Injuring his side badly. Although his
aEdlordsaw the accident, he did not even
drign to inquire he was hurt, and he
made his way to Belt $ drug store, where
they applied plaster.
Mr.. Mulro0ney was called upon and |
aid that his staten ent would appear
IN an afternoon paper, and is AZ fol-
OwS.
In the Hrst place, each and every
one OF the three tenants occupying the
house was notified according to law, Il
plain fact which neither can deny, and
winch some at least are truthful enough
not TO attemptto to deny. Again, Bishop
Becker had nothing whatsoever to say
III the matter, and sorely regret that
his name should be mixed up with the
AIsehOOd. Again, | did not want to
Increase the rent want no rent from
him wanted possession of the house,
and consider that have taken no in
human or un juSt means to get posses
sion.
when | mildly requested him TO
leave on last Monday morning, he told
me "not damn foot and that |
could not compel him to leave. Then |
Sent constable to see him to induce
him to leave quietly and to take his
|larnifure and rent (as wanted no
|renD and he told the constable if he
lave him 81 and n mint of Whiskv he