The morning times., 1895-07-07
Miss KEY FACES POVERTY
She and Her Blind and Aged
Mother Have No Support.
TURNED OUT OF HER OFFICE
She Was in the Pension Office for
Many Years and the Charge of
Inefficiency Covered Her Removal.
Fate of the Granddaughter of the
Composerof" of"StarSpangledB Banner"

I'VE will be without penny in the
world by next Monday week" was the
way her condition and that of her aged
and blind mother was stated to The Times
last night by Miss Elizabeth Key, the grand
daughter of Francis Scott Key, the author
of THE Star Spangled Banner" This
affectionate daughter has had hard time
since her story was printed first in The
. Times about month ago, the story having
been retold widely since that publication
throughout the nation.
Miss Key was one of The uufortuna ties
dropped from the rolls by Commissioner
Lochren, of the Pension Office She held
office since the Hayes administration and
was retained until the Dockery guiIIotine
began its iudiscriminate work. Miss Key
last Saturday was obliged to send TO the
Confederate Home, at Baltimore. veteran
of the war, who had been supported by her
or years.
Besides this, one of her first cousins
had the statement published that she
was an imposter, which statement was
promptly disproved.
FRIENDS WERE UNSUCCESSFUL.
Miss Key was appointed to office through
the influence of the late Senator Pendleton,
of Ohio, who married the youngest daugh
ter of Francis Scott Key, Alice Key, and
the aunt of Miss Elizabeth Key, who,
with her mother, is boarding at No. 532
Twentieth street northwest.
Friends have interviewed with the Pension
Office authorities for the reinstatement of
Miss Key, but without avail. Secretary OF
Agriculture Morton called at the office to
investigate the case, but was informed that
Miss Key was dismissed for ''inefficiency.'
She said last night that the duties she was
performing at the time of her dismissal was
simply the counting of slips.
Her influence appears to have gone,
but she still has. some hope that the Key
Monument Association, of Frederick City,
Md, may be of some assistance She is
Informed that that association, which
has undertaken to build a monument to
the composer of the national lyric, VIII
interest itself in her behalf, but she has not
heard yet what has been or what will be
done.
Her grandfather, she says, was once
District attorney for this city, and died
while holding that office The old Key
mansion is one of the landmarks OF George
town. 1t is pointed out with becoming
pride to visitors 20 that city. 1t once
had a beautiful garden in front of It,,
but the canal now runs through what was
part OF the garden
Miss Key does not remember much about
her grandfather She told, however. a
very interesting story about the original
of the 'Star Spangled Banner"
GAVE 1T TO THE GARDENER.
Her grandfather was an intimate friend
of President Jackson, and was a frequent
visitor at the White House. The gardener
at the White House those days was man
named Mahr, who did business as a florist
in this city.
The gardener asked for and received the
original notes Of the patriotic song which
was written on the back OF letter Mahr
subsequently sold the manuscript to
banker in Georgetown. These facts were