Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1893-05-30
LIFE IN THE SLUMS
As REVEALED AT A HEARING BEFORE JUS
TOE ARELE LAST NIGHT.
A Deplorabls Condition Of Affairs in SlackiOwn.
The Scott Family Again Figures in
An Unsavory Cass-PoVsrty
and immortality.

In Justice George Ankles Court, last
night. a tale of the most AFFECT poverty
and wanton immortality was adduced at
the hearing of the evidence in several
cases. The persons who figured in the
charges all live at Slacktown, above
the Top mill The notorious Scott
family were defendants.
twill be remem bered that the atten-
ton of the public was called some time
ago, through the REGISTER, to the
poverty of family who moved from
Bellaire to this city, and were living In
q dilapidated box car, near the Belmont
mill. Charitable persons rendered AID,
and secured employmeLtfor the iatner'
but being naturally indoient, ne
gave up his position, and later re-
moved his family, consisting oil
wife and four children, to SlacStoWn.
The family had no shelter and no
means OF earning a livelihood, and two
weeks ago County Commissioner Kin
dleberger rendered aid, placed them in
an unoccupied house, and secured work
for the father at the Top mill blast fur
mace. Scott appears TO be constitution
ally opposed to labor. At any rate he
Quit, after working day and a hall,
complaining that the work was too
hard"
Yesterday another phase OF the mat
ter was revealed, which places the fam
ily in even worse light. Mrs. Nancy
johnson swore out warrants for
her daughter Alice, charging her
with being person not OF
good fame, for her daughter
and Frank Burdette, charging them
with adultery aud fornication; and for
Nancy Ann Scott and Tom Scott, her
husband, charging them with keeping
disorderly house.
The hearing was set for last night.
The Office OF the Justice and the hall
way were crowded with people. The
first case called was that OF the Jackson
girl and Burdette. The evidence
showed that Burdette went on the hill
with the girl and Mrs. Scott on last
Friday, but no person could testify to
any improper conduct. Belville stated
that Mrs. Scott made an indecent prop
ositiou to him. and threatened TO use
force. lie had never spoken to either
woman before. There was not suf-
ficlent evidence TO hold, and
the Justice dismissed Burdette with
sharp lecture.
Then Alice was tried as person not
of good fame. The evidence was racy,
and much Of it unfit for publication.
Her mother told of her association with
Mrs. Scott and OF her inability to exert
parental discipline. On Sunday Mrs.
Scott got whisky, and the two women
became intoxicated. Witness found her
daughter in a freight car and took her
home. She fought all the way. Find
ing that she couldn't get out, she. took
an ak, broke the window and jumped
through il. She next found her at the
coal tipple below, with half a dozen
men. VIM. Jackson, brother of defend
dant told of an occasion when her faith
er made her full" She was mo good,
and wouldn't work" Mrs. Hines saw
defendant several times running up and
down the railroad, using the most pro-
fans language. Several other witnesses
told stories which did not differ mater
tally. The Justice held Alice TO be a
yagabond, and in default of 500 bond,
sent her to Jail FOR year.
"All right, Squire" she said, "that
suits me Just as well as living at home.
You've got to feed me, though"
The most interesting case was that
of the SCOTS. Commissioner Kindel-
berger, who is also overseer of the poor
for Washington district, was the first
TO testify. His attention was called to
the poverty Of the family, as well
as their immortality, by very nu-
merous complaints. He made
visit to the place, and found the fam
| ily beside the railroad, without an ar
ticle OF furniture and scarcely enough
clothing TO cover their bodies. He
placed them in an empty house and
| furnished them with food. He also
furnished an article OF luxury in the
shape Of bar Of soap. When he re-
turned next day he found that the soap
had not been touched. The family al
ways appeared TO be supplied with
whisky, although they lacked the nee
essaries of life.
Mrs. Nancy Jackson told Of the crowd
of men at the Scott house all day and
night, of their drunken orgies and gen.
eral disorder. Ike Leasure and Frank
Burdette testified to the same fact.
Frank had been there himself. One
witness admitted criminal relationship
with Mrs. Scott, which she vigorously
denied. Other testimony did not differ
materially from that given above.
During the progress Of the trial
county officer appeared with the four
Scott children, the youngest a babe OF
about fifteen months. All were In tat
tiers, aud covered with dirt, and three
Of the children were barefooted. The
| oldest, Nancy Ann, puny girl OF four
teen wears, was placed in the witness
stand. she told without hesitation that
a Young man had accomplished her ruin
last summer The family was living at
that time in the open air, between the
| two railroad tracks above Moundsville.
! The father was lying asleep within
twenty feet, and her cries failed to
awake him.
The Justice held both defendants to
Court. In default OF $500 bond each,
they were committed to Jail. A pitifu
scene followed, when the children real
lied the situation. The mother swore
vengeance, and held frantically to bel
baby. The fourteen-year-old daughter
exhibited a most violent temper. She
fought the officers and insisted upon
following the depraved woman, who
despite the fact that she had not pro
vided her with the necessaries OF life
was still her mother. The oldest boy
cried bitterly. His six-year-olc
brother stood by with stolic