The evening times., 1896-04-23
sTlRVIRGR[II1LE ONES
Louis Robihs9n's Children Were
Seen Eating Young Grass.
POLICE REPORT THE CASE
Most Pathetic Instance OF Suffering
and Privatlon RecOrded-A Visit
TO the Family shows Their Condi-
tion Not to Have Been ENagger-
ated-Husband Too LII to Work.

The children OF destitute family in
South Washington were seen yesterday
greediiy devouring the young Diades Oh
grass which grew along the side walk 10
check the a wful pangs or starvation.
The father is SICK and helpless, and The
mother is also in a most pitiab!e tondi
tion, both being unable to provlde the
necessa ries of life for their TaniishinS nttle
ones who are on the verge OF starvation
in a Christian community, aud surrounded
by plenty.
The case was reported to Police Lieut..
Vernon of the Fourth, or South Washington
precinct last night. His officers made
quick investigation, found the matter had
not been exaggerated in the least. and that
the family was most deCerviDS one.
at is the most terrible case OF Cestitu-
lion that has ever Leen brought tefore
me, !" said the kind-hearted lieutenant. One
that would appeal to a heart of stone-
There was not Il penny left in the police
charity fund ut the Fourth. but the officers
made up purse TO suppl the mediate wants
Of the stricken family.
Louis Robinson is the father of tie chill
lrcn. The family lives al No. 1909 Third
street southwest aud consists or the
stricken man, his wife and several small
children. Robinson was formerly soldier
in fhe regular artillery, stationed at the
arsenal. He is so badly ruptured as to be
almost unable to move his wasted body
The police report him as utterly help
less There is no food or fuel III tie
house. and the police poor fund is ex-
hausted. The father has been an Invalid
three months, and the neighbor VITO re-
b.S w bn
children eating grass 10 satisfy the crav-
iugs of hunger. said the family had sur
| fcred greatly The family is a worthy
and deserving one, Lieut.. Vernon added,
and he hopes some means may he found
| to relieve their dire distress.
A TALK WITH MRS. ROBINSON.
A representative of the The Evening
I Times called at the Robinson home this
morning He found that the circumstances
! of the case as reported by the police had
! aot been exaggerated in the least. Mrs.
| Robinson, a rather intelligent young wo-
! man. had her infant, Walter. ten months
OF age, in her inns. About the mother
/ clustered the other three children. Hester.
+ aged three years. sydney, tot of four
/ summers. and Louis who has just turned
/ his fifth birthday.
The home and Hs inmates were cleanly
and tidy, Notwithstanding the fact that
the twin terror. poverty and sickness,
! finds his grim abode there.
! The husband ia thirty-one years of age.
Last winter he was employed as coupe
driver, and while lifting the vehicle was
| ruptured so hadIy that he has been a help
! less invalid ever since.
| ~ want him to go TO the hospital, where
he can receive proper treatment" said the
4 little wife. WHO Is devoted to her family.
But he is afraid that we win suffer more
| than we have, during his absence from
| U.S.
When asked if she had eaten bren kfast
this morning, Mrs. Robinson replied that
| she did some washing for neighbor.
| almost as poor as herself, last night, and
| received Is cents. With this a scant
meal for six persons was provided.
God alone knows" said the wife,
where we Will get our dinner"
DAYS WITHOUT BREAD.
Mrs. Robinson also said the family had
gone days at a time during the severe
| winter without food or fuel. The only
aid she received was from the police and
what little her neighbors could give
They are almost as poor as we are,
she added but the food they could spare
has kept life ir our bodies. am willing &c
work to do any sort of labor, but how car
/? Here are four children babies, you
might say. and an invalid husband. They
require my constant attention. Oh, it il
awful, sir, awful!
The invalid husband is being attended
by DR.. Richa rdson of Seventh and streets
southwest, physician to the poor for that
section. He. too. thinks the husba nd shoult
be treated at a hospital, but the poor mar
Is devoted to his wife and bonny tot
aud hates TO leave them, as he expresses
it, 10 their fate.
Mr. and Mrs. Robinson have been loath tc
make known their condition to the public
and for that reason the y have suffered man!
n day III cold and silence without food
The husband is worthy, sober man ano
industrious when able to toll The cas-,
is one requiring immediate attention.