The evening world., 1889-03-27
POVERTY HIS CRIME
A Tale Of Suffering and Wrong
Which Should Shame Two States.
MARTYRD0M OF A WORKINeMAN
Jailed for Being Hungry; Kidnapped With.
out q Shadow Of Right.
A CHECK TO PAY THE eLoop.MoNEY

Tee Pathetic Story Of James SiUars, Hts
Young Wtfo and Baby Walking from
NeD Jersey Through Connections IN
Search of Work, He Is Sent to Prison for
Asking for a C"p of CoGee-Escoptng
and Tramping Home, He IL arrested and
Carried Back Without a Reputation
IN Indignant Neto Yorker Sends a Check
10 "The World" to Procure Sttors's
Release What the Governors Saw.
Wherever yesterdays WORLD was read the
story Of James Silars aroused surprise and in
dignation. Ono New Yorker's indignation
quickly materialized into check for s3o to pay
Connecticut the fine imposed on poor but
honest man for requesting q cup Of coffee.
The bravo young wife works twelve hours
day At - Q week. hoping TO save
enough TO release her husband. Connecticut's
Governor regrets that Sillars was 40 unfortunate.
but cannot give any relief. New Jerseys Gov.
ernor AYERS that any other resident Of his State
may be kidnapped in the same way. but he will
probably demand the release Of Sillars.
weary Young man dragged himself with ap-
parent effort through the streets Of Harrison.
N. j., ut dusk last Friday. His clothes were in
tatters, and from the crown OF his ragged old
hat to the soles Of his broken shoes he looked
cowed and tried to avoid observation. When he
reached No. 311 Third street he slipped in by
side entrance. The next night the same man
was dragged through the streets Of the town be-
tween two policemen, locked up in a cell at the
station and on Monday given over to Connecti-
cut officer.
The man was James Sillars the outline OF
whose story was given in yesterdays WORLD.
His crime was that while seeking work in Con-
necticut. and being without penny to buy food.
he had knocked st q door and asked for q cup of
coffee. For this I" crime" he was jailed. Es-
Gaping and toiling homeward to Jersey he was
pursued and carried back.
Agnes Guthrie and James Sillars were raised
within stones throw OF each other In Glasgow,
Scotland. They went to the same school and
when they grew old enough worked IN the same
factory. From their earliest childhood they
appeared 10 take II for granted that they would
get married Four years ago Agnes came to
America, where she heard 1t was an easy thing
to make o living. few months afterwards
James followed her. They both had friends in
Newark and they succeeded in getting work in
the factories. Two years ago last June the
courtship eliminated in quiet little wedding,
and James fondly asserted that his wife should
work no more.
PLEASANT LITTLE HOME.
They moved into three little rooms at No. 311
Third street, Harrison. 1t was not within two
miles Of James's work, but his salary was only
90 week, and the young couple had to eoono-
mize, so he did not mind the walk. They must
hav liva hap ly
that followed, for all the neighbors who were
asked about them yesterday dwelt on the fact
that the young couple were always together
when he was not at work; that Agnes used TO
walk half way mp the long, steep road that led TO
the factory to meet her husband and that they
made no acquaintances. A year ago little boy
was born, and James and Agnes appeared to be
happier than ever The young man was wrapped
up in the child. and when he came home OF even
ings would never let the little one ont Of his
arms.
In December, 1887. James went to work for
the Arlington Manufacturing Company, at Ar
lington, N. j., which is only few miles from
Harrison. On Jan. Of this year he received
notice that they would need him no longer. and
praised his honesty and efficiency during the
time he had been employed by them. This let
ter. instead Of being dated 1889, by an unfor-
tunato clerical error was dated 1888, crcum-
stance which afterwards caused poor Sillars q
world Of trouble.
During the month that followed his discharge
he tried to find work everywhere and failed.
Things grew gloomy for the little family. Mrs.
sillars, who Is OF that patient, gentle type of
woman who can endure any kind Of torture
without hinching, did all she could to cheer him
up, but he soon saw that he must seek work else
where or they would both starve. A friend in
an evil moment told him to 60 to Connecticut
and that he would find plenty OF work there. He
started Feb. 21.
HOPE AND COURAGE.
- He had little money and gave IL TO his wife
handed II to a neighbor to give her when he had
gone. Then he set out for Connecticut with 45
cents in his pocket He had made up his mind
70 walk all the way and thought that the 46
the haysiacks and barns. He had no idea how
lar Connecticut was, but set ont on his long
journey With the simple faith that IL would be
A kind. hearted grocer, p. ]. oDonough. who
keepg store across the street from where. the
couple lived, and who had been giving them
groceries on credit since Silars got out Of work,
said he would see that the wife and child did not
y Mrs; sillArs got letter from her husband
rep. ~, saying in few words that he had been
crested apd was in Jail at Brooklyn, Conn.
SSTishtened almost out Of her wits the Young
she received explained everything 1t iB elo-
quent and pathetic In its simple illiterGcy.
s1LLARs LETTER TO HIS WIFE.
ADHHss 3l1 5HInD ST EAST EETAan NJ}
ssS'iESS fSS. WV a'fi;E SSf
fha ha boston bots tp se Il cod get Working my Pas,
WSH \. bS Od have % come s hSnS 9Sh but you NJ