The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-05-26
A SAD STORY
OF MISFORTUNE
Chicago Woman undersccs Many Sor-
rowful Experiences.
EVIDENTLY HAUNTED BY HARD LUCK
Came to These Parts on an Errand of
Charity and Now She Herself is n
Most Deserving Subject Of Charity.
Met Good Snmnritans Ncrc--Wiil
BE Sent Back To Chicago.

If there is such q thing as being
haunted by hard luck Mrs. Jennie Will
son, Of Chicago. who came to this city
three weeks ago to look after her aged
mother Is undergoing that experience.
Sho IL n widow about thirty three
years OF age and has two children, both
girls. one thirteen and the other seven
years of age. Soon after the birth OF
her youngest child her husband was
killed ana. left without any means she
was forced to go out to work to provide
for herself and little ones. By her un-
firing energy and careful management
she not only looked after their immed-
tate wants but saved a little money.
about $500.
Hearing that her aged mother In
Wilkes Barre, was destitute and being
cared for by the poor board she re-
solved upon coming to her assistance
and with her little earnings started
here to look up her mother and take
her back to Chicago. that she might
not end her days in a poor house.
HER MOTHER DEAD.
Arriving here three weeks ago she
found that her mother was dead. that
her step-brother and step-sister were
In extremely destitute circumstances
preceding her arrival started out with
thirty-nine cents In his pocket to look
for work in the lower part of the state.
The day after her arrival the dead and
mangled body Of her brother was
shipped home from Easton where he had
been run over by the cars while cross
ing through n railroad yard.
She buried her brother and with only
$50 of her savings left came to this city
to look up u married sister who had
formally lived in Bellevue. This sister
had moved away and none of the neigh
bOrs knew Of her whereabouts. Dis
heartened and sick she determined to
bid farewell to her relatives In Wilkes
Barre and return to Chicago. While
waiting for the train In the Delaware
and Hudson station In this city her
pocket book containing the 500 left out
Of her savings was stolen by two wO-
men of the town who picked it up in
the toilet room where she left 1t while
washing her little girls face. The po-
lice took care of her over night and
took every effort to find the thieves.
but being unsuccessful sent her back to
Wilkes Barre the next day.
SOLD HER WEDDING RING.
Her two relatives there could bare
ly support themselves and consequent
ly could not take care of her and her
two children, SO she was compelled to
sell the contents of her trunk piece by
piece, and even her wedding ring to
procure food and lodging.
Sunday the last article of value they
had, a ring which her younger daugh-
ter had given to her for a Christmas
present. was pawned to pay for lodg-
ing. They had return tickets from
Wilkes Barre to this city, and not
knowing what else to do came here.
She went to the headquarters of the
board of charities. and while waiting
for Mrs. Duggan Street Commissioner
Kinsley happened in, and hearing that
they had had nothing to eat since 4
O'Clock Sunday afternoon, took them to
Mltchell's dining room, provided them
with food and secured employment for
the mother during the rush that Is now
on owing to the conclave. He then in
terested Poor Director Fuller in the
case and started Off to look after the
street arrangements for the parade, in
which business he was up to his ears
yesterday.
Wade Finn, who was in Alderman
Fuller'S office when the wornan's sad
story was being related. left 81 with
the alderman to be used in supplying
some of the immediate wants of the
unfortunates Alderman Fuller said he
would see that they were sent back to
Chicago all right, so it Is likely that
they will soon find their sufferings at
an end. Mrs. Wilson is a skilled lace
curtain cleaner, she says, and can se-
cure plenty of work when she gets
home.
Scranton Souvenir for sale at BOG