The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1894-12-11
THE COUNTY
ISAR0USED.
AlmShOuse officials Must Stand an
Investigation.
ASSUMED INDIFFERENCE
Some People Say the Disclosures are
Only Part of a Shrewd Democratic
Political Scheme.
D INDIFFERENCE |

The almshouse exposure made by the
HERALD and other county papers yester.
day, as was expected, created a profound
sensation in most circles. In some quart
ers there were people who received the
news with some display of incredulti.
These people limited very pointedly at
suits for libel and intimated that they
believed the exposure was but part of a
plot to iniure some of the appointees in.
cluded in the slate agreed upon by Director
of the Poor Day and Director-elect Diet
rich.
However this may be, it is quite certain
that were the newspapers to overlook the
affair, or give it but passing notice, they
would very properly receive the censure
of the people.
If, as is claimed by the people who treat
the exposure with suspicion, certain
clique of politicians have succeeded in so
effectually arousing the clergy and a
large number of prominent citizens of
this county as they appear to be at this
time over this matter, it is one of the
most successfully carried out of cunning
schemes ever handled in the politics of
this county.
But the source from whence the HER
AID has derived it's information is not
from any political clique. The gentle.
men, it is quite certain, have not been
influenced by the arrangement of any
slate of appointments, nor are they
interested in the matter from any
other than a moral standpoint of
view. 1t is not contended, how
ever, that they could not have
been imposed upon. But whether or not
they have been, it cannot be disputed that
the exposure has and will bring to light
condition of affairs at the almshouse
that must be investigated. Even friends
of the parties who treat the affair as part
of political scheme, and the parties
themselves, acknowledge that there have
been some very improper doings at the
| almshouse, and that it has extended over
a long period. Upon this admission alone
| there should be an investigation.
The HERALD does not wish to be party
to any movement by which anyone shall
be improperly judged and for that reason
it has tried to get as near as possible tC
the true situation of affairs as viewed
from many standpoints,
Among the gentlemen interviewed last
night by HERALD reporter was Rev. T
Maxwell Morrison, who had just returned
from Pottsville, where he attended tue
meeting held at that place yesterday anC
which served as one of the avenues Of ex
posures. Mr.. Morrison spoke freely. H,
said, II never in my life read such dis
gusting and horrifying tale as that tolt
by the affidavit shown at the meeting to
day. 1t was awful. The affidavit was
made by young woman residing a
Mahanoy Plane"
1t appears from what Rev. Morrison
says that the young woman Miss Marion
O'Brien) testifes that she went to th
almshouse some time ago for treatment
in the medical department of the institu
tion. The treatment was successful. A
the patient improved one of the official
of the almshouse succeeded in getting he
transferred from the medical department
TO his own quarters and after the woman
went the official informed her that he haC
secured the transfer for his own persona
benefit and he carried out his purpose
1t is alleged that this official made re
peated visits to houses of prostitution
i in Pottsyille with this woman and that h.
and another man, whose name is with
held until such time as an investl gatio
is held, subsequently took the woman frou
the almshouse to a house of prostitution
in Frackville, where they remained wit
her from the afternoon of one day unit
the afternoon of the next day; and upol
leaving her at Frackvile advised her T.
remain an inmate of the house designated
which advice she followed.
Marion o Brien is, at present, the sta
witness. In referring to her Rev. MOI
rison said he had no knowledge OF til
went to the almshouse, nor did he car
what it was. II the story she tells is tru
iU attaches woeful disgrace to the instiUu
tion, as it is the duty of the officials j
charge to help improve such peopl
morally as well as physically, rather tina
to renew or lend coguizaucc t1 down
ward path of life.
A gentleman of town who had a COZ
versation with Steward Hartman, Of Oh
almshouse, says that gentlem IN
thoroughly incensed over the disclosure
aud will probably prosecute any who hav
coupled his name with them. More tha
this, the informant says, there will
1 N, In, "a na1fffanl afrnIf
of the county that may shake the aim
house from stem to stern. In oth'
t words, it is intimated, that Mr. Hartma
viii not only demand fullinvestigatiol
but will also step forward and tell all
Ilows and has heard of doings at IL
almshouse. 1t is at the same time stats