The herald., 1896-07-18
OLD, FORsAKEN AND ALONE
The Pitiful Tale Told by On Aged Woman
In the Hospital
Turned Out eS Doors Psnnliess and With No
Place to DEAN Almost Incredible
Tale Of Heartlessness

In the city receiving hospital sits an
old, silvery- Daired woman, feeble.
scarcely able to walk. but whose
rs years have not dimmed the bright
ness of her mind nor marred an appar-
emily sweet disposition. She is Mrs.
Sarah ]. Poorman. and is In the hospital
until she can find some one who will take
charge and care for her. furnishing as
sistance that she may be enabled to go
to her old home. where she hopes to
spend a few remaining months or days
of her life. In quavering voice. that
was at times choked with sobs. Mrs.
Poorman last night told the following
pitiful story. Her home was formerly
San Jose, where she and her husband
lived for twenty years. honest and re-
spected citizens. He was a teamster.
but died six years ago. leaving her a
little property. From babyhood Mrs,
Poorman had reared and cared for her
grandchild, William F. White, her
daughters son. The father died Of con-
sumption when his son was years old,
and Mrs Poorman assumed the child's
rearing. After her husbands death Mrs.
Poorman supported herself by sewing
until she became too feeble to do much.
She was living in little cottage and had
an income of IS per month from q PEN
sion allowed her.
She has another grandchild. a Mrs.
Whipple of No. 423 Delmas avenue. San
Jose, who has her mother. Mrs. Poor
mans daughter. to care for, hence the
old lady could not live with them. Her
little cottage was moved or to make
place for a larger building. and being un-
able to get another cheap enough Mrs.
Poorman decided to pack her few be-
longings and come to Los Angeles to
live with her grandson, William who is
a carpenter residing on Waterloo street.
this city.
Accordingly about three months ago
she came here. White failed to meet her
at the train and she was brought to the
police station until he could be looked
up. He came and took the old lady to
his home. Mrs. Poorman claims that
she met with a rather chilly reception
and felt that her presence was not de-
sired. Whites wife evidently felt the
undesired burden Of his aged grand
mothers presence and resented It,
On Thursday Mrs. Poorman says, she
went to a neighbors to vista little be-
fore noon. Her friend was Mrs. KIM
ball, and with her the old lady stayed all
afternoon. remaining to supper Then
she started home. Mrs. Whitel met her
at the door and refused admittance,
tclllnR HcT tHdt she was HO lOTSST Wdut-
ed and could not come in. Then she put
the old lady's few belongings into the
yard and told her to go.
Back to Mrs. Kimballs the aged wo-
man tottered and was allowed to sleep
there, although perforce on the floor, as
her friend had no extra bed to put her
on. Being poor herself and unable to
care for the old lady. Mrs. Kimball yes
terday morning took Mrs. Poorman to
the residence of officer Pawling of the
city police, where she remained until
night, when she was brought to
police headquarters. There she-will re-
main until some provision Is made for
her, either by sending her back to San
Jose, where she wants to go, or else to
an old lady's home or the poorhouse.
The above is as related by Mrs. Poor
nan and her conversation seemed to
bear the impress of truth. 1t was i'm
possible to see Mr.. White last night to
get his version of the story, and there
may possibly be euotner SIDE to the tale,
as. it seems incredible that anyone could
be 80 heartless as to turn decrepit old
woman out in the streets at night with
no money and not place where she
might lay her head.