The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1891-01-08
Jersey City and Summit
Lock Horns Over the
Minister Family's
Troubles.
CAPTAIN SMITHS QUEER COURSE.
He Aids Summit Against Jersey
City-The Family's Sufferings
While Riding Over the
Country in an Open
Truck.

masters OF the cities in this vicinity as
the dumping ground for their paupers.
An instance OF this was brought to
liRnt yesterday. when I accompanied
Poormaster Hewitt on tour among the
poor of the city The story revealed
finds parallel only In those of eviction
OF the Irish tenantry by English land
lords.
Eleven years ago a woman named Min
lister came to this country, leaving behind
her in Germany her husband and one
child. She went to Greenville. where,
about year afterwards. she was Joined
by her husband and her young daughter.
They had no money aud only few neces-
sary household effects. They lived eight
months In Greenville and then
moved TO Scalenburg. near Hacken-
sack. Mr.. Minister secured work
on farms. His wages were small, how
ever and after two years the family moved
TO Elizabeth, where they resided two
years. Next they lived eig hteen months
ln Union Township. Then they lived n
year at Short Hills; two years in Spring
field; one year in Milburn, and then they
moved to Summit.
On August Mrs. Minister sent her
husband to Deantown to buy groceries.
While returning he was met by Con-
stable James johnson, who demanded
from him taxes due the town of Milburn.
Minister said he had no money. where
upon he alleges he was set upon by Con-
stable johnson and gang, of saloon
toughs and badly beaten. He dragged
himself home and for weeks afterwards
was confined to his bed Mrs. Minister
dld what work she could obtain to sup
port the family. She threatened to bring
suit against Constable Johnson for the
Sr,te 80 \. 49, -.
afterward she was forcibly elected from
her house by Constable McGrath. For
three days she remained on the street
with her household effects She appealed
TO many for assistance. aud at last q Mrs.
De Forrest secured for her a small house
into which she moved and the rent of
which, 1t is believed, was paid by Poor
master Graef. Of Summit.
BRIBED TO GO To JERSEY CITY.
Shortly afterwards Mr.. Minister was
visited by Police Justice Kelly and
Banker Hicks, OF Summit, and offered
81 900 IL he would move his family to Jer-
sey City. Minister, who Is an ignorant
'As- - h;aebout to sign the agreement
~ 4 wife, who is an intelligent
--gA.lssif. inteis sosed and told the visitors
that If they would place the money be-
fore her. she would allow her husband to
sign the agreement.
The two men endeavored to intimidate
her, but she stood firm and they left. The
poor couple We're then informed by the
Poormaster that they would have to 20
to Jersey City and he gave them IS with
which to rent rooms here. The Ministers
came to this city and visited Poormaster
Hewitt, v 10 told them to go back to
Summit and stay there. Poormaster
Graet then wrote to Poormaster Hewitt
that the family would be sent to Jersey
City again. as they belonged here. Mr..
Hewitt asked for evidence of
hafr rIo of 70 in
but Graef did not reply. Mr.. Hewitt then
directed The police of Greenvilie to arrest
anyone who should bring the Ministers
to this city. When the family returned
10 Summit the IS was returned to Graef,
and they refused 70 return to Greenville
Graef subsequently visited their house
with truck to remove them, but Mrs.
Minister locked the door and refused to
admit him.
Groef's men, however, it is alleged,
effected an entrance and placed Mr. and
Mrs. Ministers, their household goods and
their five children on truck, which was
started for Greenville. IL was a cold day
and the family suffered severely from the
cold
CAPTAIN SMITHS QUESTIONABLE ACTION.
Instead OF obeying the Poormaster's
orders and arresting Graefis men, Mr.
Hewitt alleges that Police Captain John
Smith assisted Graef in finding rooms for
the evicted family. He escorted
Graef around Greenville, while the
mother and children were allowed to re-
main in the cold ON the wagon. The
mother seeing the sufferings of her chill
dren. took them into a bakers near by
and procured some coffee for them.
While they were drinking it Graef and
Captain Smith came in and took them to
a shanty, not fit. the mother claimed
for pigs to live in. She refused
to go there, but her goods
were unloaded and placed in the house,
and in despair the poor woman WAS
forced to stay. Before leaving Graef gave
her $50 for the rent.
Subsequently the Ministers took rooms
at No. al McAdoo avenue. where they
have since lived. The father has worked
from time to time, but was never able TO
earn much. The oldest girl earns 81 per
month, which pays the rent.
Such was the story told to me yester-
day by Mrs. Minister at her home. Int the
room was but bed, a trunk and four
chars. The mantel held a clock and a
crucifix; while on the wall hung a fiddle
and some pictures. In another small
room was a stove with no fire, around
which played four small children. The
father stood by seemingly unable to help
himself, while upon the bed, with scant
clothing against the cold, lay the mother
about TO be confined. Poormaster Hew-
lit at once ordered City Physician Eyert
TO attend her aud ordered groceries for
the family. He sent them fuel this morn
ing and will do all he can to make tn EN-
comfortable.