Los Angeles herald., 1892-08-19
TURNED OUT TO STARVE,
Who Runs the County Poor
House, Anyways
The Uncalled For Treatment of a
Deerepit Pauper.
He Conld Not Sweep the Hall So Was
Thrown Out of the Poor House.
A Sad Story of Want and
Poverty.

Patrick Lee, aged, decrepit, worn out
in his dotage, without dollar to his
name, without friends or relatives, was
lately turned out of the county poor
house to starve to death. This is but an
instance of mans inhumanity to man,
and it occurred recently at the county
poor house of this county, near Downey.
The case OF Patrick Lee is one which
commends itself to all of the charitably
disposed people of this city. He is an
Irishman by birth, and since 1852 has
resided in Southern California. He is a
laborer-a hod carrier-but when age
came upon him and untitled him for his
occupation, he applied and was admitted
to the county poor house.
Here, for three years past, he has
been living, perfectly harmless, inter-
fering with and injuring no one. He ia
a cripple, the bones of his left knee CAP
being fractured. A few days ago DR..
Burdick, the official in charge of the
poor farm, turned him out.
1t seems that the steward at the poor
house directed the old man to sweep
the hallway ofthe institution. Lee said
that he was not physically able, and
asked to have some of the younger in
mates Of the poor house do the work.
The Id man had no words with the
steward at all.
Later, DIR. Burdick informed the aged
cripple that unless he swept the hall he
would no longer be permitted to remain
at the institution. It may be that the
old man had been guilty OF a breach Of
discipline in refusing, but he certainly
was not able to do the work. ANYWAY.
his 68 years had weighed hard upon
him fand he was really in second
childhood.
At noon that day, when the dinner
bell was rung, the old man started to
enter the dining hall, but the attend-
ants told him that he could not 90 in.
Later, DR.. Burdick informed him that
he must leave the institution, His
blankets and mattress had been taken
from him, and he was told to get his
belongings and leave.
AS the old man had no belonging to
speak of he left, being assisted off of the
premises by strong-armed attendant.
without penny in money, twelve
miles from the city, and no friends, the
poor old man was bewildered. He
knew not what to do, or where to turn.
Finally he started for Los Angeles.
All that day he walked toward the city
in the hot, sitting sunshine. AT length
he became fatigued, and too weak to 90
further. He fell in faint, striking his
right hand on the railroad track, and
injuring it.
AS soon as he came to, and had rested
q while, he moved on. From a man he
met on the road he secured few crack
ers. This was all the food he had for
supper.
When night came, he had no place to
sleep, but was completely worn cut with
fatigue. So he laid down under euca-
lyptus tree, and there slept until day
break.
Then he continued his journey until
he reached Vernon. Here he went to a
house and asked for something to eat.
He was almost famished. To the lady
of the house he told the story of his
treatment. She was one of those kind
hearted, benevolent ladies, who will
ever be an honor to her sex, and pre-
pared the old man breakfast.
After he had finished, she directed
him to the end of the Vernon street-car
line, and gave him % cents to pay his
fare into the city and to use until he
found assistance.
The old man arrived here, but be had
no place to go. tt seems that, during
the old days when he was able to work
in this city, he had boarded with lady
at the Lafayette house, on Ducommun
street. To her he told his story. The
lady gave him place to sleep, and has
since furnished him with food. But she
herself is poor, and cannot continue
this.
This being the case, something must
be done for Patrick Lee. He cannot be
permitted to starve-old and childish
man that he is-simply because, for pet
ty in fraction of discipline, DIR. Burdick
thought proper to eject him from the
almshouse. Upon its face the action of
the doctor looks most inhuman.
The HERALD has started subscrip-
tion for Patrick Lee, and any moneys
left at this Office for him will be turned
over to proper parties, who will see to it
that the sums donated 20 to his support.
Or, Burdick having elected him from
the county poor house, will not readmit
him. The money Of the taxpayers of
this county spent in sustaining poor
farm, is intended for just such persons
as Patrick Lee. Yesterday afternoon the
following gentlemen contributed the
sums, set opposite their names, for the
relief of this unfortunate INDECENT: D.
M. McGarry, 81; Martin @. Marsh. 81 ;
A. McNally, 81; Adolph Ramish, 81
Walter s. Moore, 81; F. B. Colver, ST..
The money is in the possession of the
HERALD, and the sum will undoubtedly
be increased today. The Irish-Ameri-
can societies in this city will also take
Lees case in hand.