Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1891-08-18
DEATH AND DEsTITU rION.
wretch d Condition of the n ONE and
Family OF Matthias Mathis in Dav

Wretch ID Condition of the Home and
Family OF Ma,thins Mathis in Dav
export
Under the glaring headlines of Rock
Islands Refuse Mathew Mathews and
his Destitute Family" the Davenport
Times of last evening tells the following
story:
A few days ago mention was made
through the press of the condition of the
destitute family at 121 Main street, and
intensely interesting points. Mathew
Mathews is the name of German who
for some time kept a barber shop in the
room adjoining the office of the Rock ISL
and Union. About three weeks ago he
for some reason moved to this city and
opened barber shop at the above num-
Der on Main street. Nothing unusual was
noticed of the neighbors until about one
week ago when it was learned that they
were In deplorable condition and it was
also noted that the proprietor of the shop
was constantly filed up with whisky.
One week ago yesterday Mrs. Mathews
was taken sick. Her condition indi>
Gated the urgent need of a physician,
AS she was nearing confinement. The
husband, who, 1t is said, has not
drawn sober breath since he has been
in the town, was notified by the ailing
wife that a doctor was Dec ded. lie did
not go to get one, but claims that he sent
his lltile boy, who Is about 10 years old.
10 a telephone TO call a physician; but if
be did the doctor did not get the sum-
mons. and conse quently did not come.
At about o'clock the mother WAS taken
violently sick and the child was born,
assisted, it is said. by only the whisky
soaked husband. The moth,
or laid in filth from Sunday uutil
some days later when kind u,ighbor
learned of her awful condition ard ten
dered what assistance was within her
power. but sll week the lady rolled to
and fro in bed of filth. while her hus-
band soaked himself in whisky. Benev-
olent ladies gave her limited attention.
Yesterday Mr.. Mathews went down TO the
river TO go swimming. aud while he was
there the baby took sick, went into con>
vulsions and died. without the care of
physician, and DR.. DeArmond saws
that he has reason to believe that the
child died from neglect. 1t was not
caused necessarily from desiitution as
the father could have prohibited it if he
had only have lett whisky alone, and this
is case for the grand jury to Investigate
Times reporter called at the small,
diney, dirty apartment in company with
Officer Martens and later with Dr.. De
Almond. The room is divided into
front and rear room BY low partition
In the front room is filthy barber shop,
while the rear room has two curtains
drawn across either side. behind which
stands bed. the floor is carpetiess and
the loom is devoid of furniture other than
en- old cook stove. couple 0t chairs AID
some tin ware. Atthe foot of the mothers
bed was a basket in which layed the baby
which was favored with a timely death,
and evidently escaped much trouble. A
cloth was spread over its face and flies
swatmed around it. TIE county buried
1t. The fatbe- forces his little hoy out
on the streets to shine shoes and when he
does not bring home as much money as
the irrate parent thinks that he should,
the lad is roughly handled.
The individual alluded to is uudoubted.
ly Matthias Mathis, and while the location
of his residence during his brief sojourn
In this city is correct as given. Rock
Island disclaims any interest in him. He
is not Rock Island outcsst, but an Iowa
product through and through, an exile
no doubt. from the state of prohibition
he sought refuge in Illinois
here until he found it more congenisl
to return again to his native hsunts.