The morning call., 1893-09-21
Meeting of the Trustees
and Managers.
MRS. NELSON'S STATEMENT,
Full and Firm Confidence in the
President of the Home Ex-
pressed at the Meeting.

The statements of the inmates of the
home who expressed dissatisfaction be-
came one of the subjects of inquiry.
There were present the follOwing-named
lady managers: Mrs. Charles Nelson,
Mrs. j. L. Murtel, Mrs. D. j. Staples, Mrs
A. w. Scott Mrs. D. E. Friele, Mrs. Will
liam II. Dick. Mrs. George II. Tyson, Mrs.
P. Z. Bowles, Mrs. II. w. Yeamans. Mrs.
w. 2. Shaw. Mrs. c. E. Miller, Mrs. E. C.
Wright, Mrs. +. T. Norman, Mrs. A. Wet
terman, Mrs. c. T. Lagercrantz, Mrs. S..
Wenban, Mrs. p. Eyarts, Mrs. William
Murdoch, Mrs. C. T. Deane, Mrs. E. A.
Fargo. The only ones absent were those
out of the State-Mrs. Isaac Recht, Mrs.
W J. Dutton and one or two others,
The trustees present were Charles F.
Ranlon, C. V. S. Gibbs, A. w. Scott. S. f.
Peterson, d. J. STABLES, w. E. Brown, L.
B. Mastck. David Hewes.
Prior to the meeting Mrs. Charles Mel
son, president of the home. was asked by
a reporter for The CALL if she had read
the charges made against her by two of
the lady managers ana already published
in The CALL, and she was also asked
what she had to say in regard to the
charge that she ignored the other lady
managers and forced the insurance into
the hands of her nephew.
"Such a charge" said Mrs. Nelson, sis
BHllIElg uDlDunOCu' III 1aCG L HdQ HOIulDR
to 90 with the insurance from beginning
TO END, except that while | was sick in bed
I received letter from w. Z Brown. sec.
rotary of the Crocker trust. who asked my
advice as to the Insurance last June.
II wrote him telling him that the board
of trustees should meet and give out the
insurance in open ard public meeting, and
that although l had a nephew who was
in the insurance business, and who
was around actively in his own behalf So
licting some of it, yet he must not forget
that Mrs. Staples husband was the presi-
dent of the Flreman's Fund, and that there
were altogether i've managers in the
board, all OF whom had husbands or rela-
tives as officers Of the Fireman's Fund,
and that these FIVE ladies' with their FIVE
male relatives in the Fireman's Fund
should not be overlooked. although my
nephew was also bidding for the insur-
ance.
sat this time and before the meeting
Mr.. Brown was compelled. on his own re-
spOnsi bility. to place some of the insurance,
because some policies had expired before
the trustees met. When the trustees did
meet they awarded the insurance in open
meeting without my presence or participa-
ton"
''Was there not some insurance before
this last year?"
Yes" said Mrs. Nelson, "but the in
surance was principally with the Fire
mans Fund, if not all of il, and was
effected for the years 1890, 1891 and 1892,
by the secretary of the Croker trust,
without any suggestion or advice or even
consultation with myself. After the sec
rotary sent the policies TO the ladies they
paid their share of the premium. You can
thus see that there is absolutely no fouDda-
CiG1in The charge against me. as my bus
band is not in the insurance business and
I have NO relative in the FIreman's Fund"
rs there any truth in the report that
you are about TO resign?"
well, [ should tSaY not at the present
time. You must remember that have spent
almost the whole of my lie from 1873 up
10 the present time in building up this
home, and | have carried it out to the en-
tire satisfaction of the Croker family and
of all the officers OF the Croker trust.
The public should be guided by what w.
II. Croker says, and by what w. 81.
Brown, the secretary of the Croker trust,
says. rather than by the statements of per-
sons who are afraid to their have names
Endorsing their statements. In 1892, when
/ resigned my position in the home, the
directors in open nesting unanimously
and by a standing vote refused to accept
my resignation. The most part OF last
year | was in Europe, and Mrs. Friele and
other ladies conducted the home very ably
in my absence. In 1898, at the annual
meeting, on account of my ill health.
again rendered my resignation, and it was
again unanimously declined. | still in
sisted upon resigning, but remained in
Office at the request of Mrs. EastoD. the
mother-in-law of Mr.. Croker. Since
these charges have been made. however, |
shall now remain in Office, as the work the
home has done is a matter not to be
ashamed of by any president"
SIT is stated, Mrs. Nelson, that supplies
at the home were all obtained from Mitch
ell q Peterson and that the ladies did not
I'm uxs1b Of OOipO IS IN q 4
you favored Mitchell & Peterson, pawn g
them 10 per cent more than you have any
body else?"
Mrs. Nelson showed great Indignation
and her eyes flashed as she stated: That's
unfounded gossip, if any person ever so
stated. There are other grocery firms be-
sides Mitchell & Peterson who supplied
groceries. During the last year and a half
the chairman OF the buying committee
bought all the goods without any sugges-
tion from me, and Mitchell q Peterson had
to compete in their bids the same as any
body else. The chairman of the supply
committee was unable to get better or
lower bid than Mitchell & Peterson's for
the goods bought from them. had moth
ing to do with il"
1.-THE coal supplies were obtained on
competitive bidding. | had nothing to do
with it.
1.-THE meat supplies were obtained from
Rosenbaum 81 Co., butchers. They are
entire strangers to me, and were recon-
mended by Mrs. Staples
''The butter supplies were obtained from
the lowest bidder, Atkinson e. Co., who
were recommended by Mrs. Staples. but
who were and still are strangers TO me.
1.-The fruit and vegetable supplies were
purchased on competition by the chairman
of the supply committee every Thursday.
Mrs. Freile having to 60 in person to in
spect the goods. l had nothing to do
with it,"
ut is stated" said the reporter, shat
Captain Nelson sold some lumber to the
home at an exorhitant price. Is that so ?"
NO." said Mrs. Nelson, shat is a state
ment without any truth in it. Cap
tain Nelson is a wholesale lumber deale r,
but has no lumber-yard and no such lum-
Der to sell, and when he was asked for il
he replied he COULDN'T fill the order him.
self, but telephoned to Slade & Co. of
Main street, who sent up about 40O0 feet
Of refuse lumber at the lowest N arket rate
then prevailing"
The financial and general management
OF the home was the subject of inquiry at
the meeting. which opened in the loren on
and continued until the afternoon.
The question was asked if any of those
present knew anything against Mrs. Nell
son. Each and all replied that they did
~w.AF Id 100 r.