The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1894-12-22
The ALMSHOUSE Abuses
Shocking State Of Affairs Revealed
at POttsyille.
THE STORY OF LIZZIE O'BRIEN
A Former Inmate of the County House
Places Steward Hartman in an Unfav.
orable Light-The Steward and
Directors Make No Defense.
BY the United Press.

Pottsville, Pa, Dec. 21.-The investi-
cation into the charges made against
Steward Hartman and Poor Directors
Day and Ebbing and other officials of
the county almshouse was opened this
morning in the court house. The in
vestigation is conducted by William
Wilhelm, attorney for the county audi
tors. Messrs. Samuels and Jenkins
were in attendance, but Auditor John
II. Doyle, the Democratic member of
the. board, did not appear.
Six witnesses were examined this
morning. The first was Manager John
+. Finney, of the Miners Journal,
whose testimony was not of start
ling character, as he only heard rumors
that the girl Lizzie O'Brien, who had
made charges against Steward Hart
man, had made second affidavit, in
which she exonerated Hartman aud ac-
cused others.
DIR. p. II. O'Hara, the almshouse ply
sician, testified that it was true that
female inmates of the insane depart
ment were sometimes undressed by the
keeper at the requst of his wife.
Almshouse Clerk John j. O'Connor
told when the O'Brien girl was ad-
mitted to the institution and when dis
charged. She was for a time in the
insane hospital, her mind being af-
fected, but was afterward in the main
building. Her mother is now in an
asylum.
Mrs. Begley, an inmate, testified to
seeing Steward Hartman drive off with
Lizzie O'Brien and another girl, and
come back with the O'Brien girl. w.
II. Voute, cripple, who is an inmate,
was also sworn, and he testified that
he knew the O'Brien girl by sight, but
had never seen her with Steward Hart
man. He said he was surprised when
he read the rumors in the paper. The
witness was stood aside as Attorney
Wilhelm said he wanted to see him
alone. Neither Hartman nor the poor
directors appeared at the investiga-
ton, nor were they represented by
counsel.
Lizzie O'Bricn's Life.
The afternoon session was devoted
almost solely to hearing the testi-
mony of the principal witness, Lizzie
O'Brien. The girl stated that her father
died when she was years old, and that
she had been practically an orphan
because her mother had been in an in
sane asylum ever since. Lizzie, who
Is 1.6 years old, said she was betrayed
by a man named Flynn, She was adj
mitted to the hospital at the almshouse
on Aug. 25. Three weeks later she was
transferred to the main building by
Steward Hartman, and she swore that
her. She also testified that on three
different occasions she was taken tC
Pottsville by Hartman and they met
at the same asslgnation house every
time. He gave her small sums OF
money and after she had left the aims
house for good and could not get worl
she went to live in house of i'll fame
She changed her boarding house ant
was visited once by Hartman, whC
occupied room with her and gave hel
money. She also testified that h,
scolded he. 'or being in such a house
Lizzie then told of her living as {
hCusekeeper for a widower in Frack
vile and how she was taken to st
Claire, where she was asked by Hart
man to make affidavit that he had no
had intercourse with her and she sal,
she took the affidavit because she liket
Mrs. Hartman,
A little girl who stopped at the hous
of designation designated was put oil
the stand, recognized Lizzie and cor
roborated much of her testimony
When the little girl had told her stor.
the investigation adjourned to NEE
next Wednesday.