The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-03-22
NEWS FROM TACOMA.
a YArPER, YET - SUPPORTED
LAKE, A PRINCESS.
Mrs.. DE Wsffs uans Cor neesc1 with
Comnfssssser Holmes - scandai
Arises Frem Supplies Furnished
TO Pierce Cosnfy's Peor-Now
They Don't Kssw What 60 Do
with the Wsnan-
Tscona. Bureau OF the Poe:-rnteilsgencer.
IN pzciAc Axeuue.

liza Pacific avenue.
TACOMA March z.--Consl1eraoss COM
nenr xzs caused here today by ne publ
cation Ia the Ledger this morning Of al
article regarding the scandal over the
nzanaxemsnt OF the coanty poor IN the
commissioner Office. which has been pub
iic property for some months past.
According TO The records IN me com1is-
ssouerss Office Mrs De W.T.. has been
maintained sor a year past In ore Of the
dwelling houses on Yakima avenue belong
ing % the county. IN . style quite Out Of
the ordinary. Il IS said that supplies sg-
grezatlng 500 have been purchased for the
woman by the commissioner during the
past year. "a addition 70 which. so the
story goes she has been furnished with 4
comfortable home with fuel and water
free. and q man 20 chop her wood. while
county paupsrs have been cent 10 he poor
farm.
one item I'm the bgEs for supplies fur
nsshea 20 Mrs. De witt has caused more
cezsment than perhaps any other. This 70
bill for three pairs OF hoxe AZ - cents
per pair Tire hf1i does not say they were
elk stockings but the price charged war
rants the belief, in the absence OF any
further evidence on the poin. that they
we're Of the finest texture and pattern
Mrs. De witt got herself into the news
papers some two years ago by shooting
FranE Neeker a son o. Ezra Mseksr,
through the leg NeekeT ala nor prosecute
the case. The relations between Meeker
and the woman have never been fully cx-
planned 20 the public.
That there are other irregularities exist
fng connected with The management % the
county dependents is made evident by an
examination Of the records In III. office Of
the county auditor. Regarding this mat
to the Ledger says:
Many OF the orders known 20 have
been given by Holmes 20 Mrs. DE Witt
e. his ftTs1e are not 10 BE- found and
b. him In Ink that has 20 faded A. TO he
Almost iilegible. There have been numsr-
Gus orders for drugg that do not appear on
the records. bat which are positively
known &c have been sent 6at and which
ar examination ~ the stubs OF Holmes
rauper order books should bring 10 light.
only show the numbers OF the orders and
not the names OF persons 20 whom Is
sued, as do the grocery bills
Tn speaking OF the matter yesterday
Chairman Maioney. Of the board OF coun-
~ commissioners. said:
" We have for some time been trying
TO set al the bottom ~ the system used
by Commissioner Holmes in the issuing
OF his pauper orders. but have been I'M
able TO accomplish much thus far. We
have known or suspected for some time
that things were not just right. and I
myself have objected to the keeping OF
Mrs. he Witt In the house where she re-
sides ct the expense Of the county, when
we have poor farm for such people. I
understand that the county is keeping her
N home food. fuel. and clothing. and
Last week sent her notice that she must
get out OF thu house she Is occupying, as
we wanted TO rent n. She came to the
onice and said she was willing 20 move
at any time when the county furnished
other quarters, as she did not like the
place, because she DID not think II right
FOR lady Ike her 70 have 70 carry water
from the court house. She said she would
prefer couple OF nice rooms some
where. IL we could get them FOR her
few days ago ] sent the tsnitor over 10
the jail 20 tell her again she would have
20 get out. and she told him practically
the same az she told me- The fact f. We
want to get rid of her. but have not been
able 10 do SO yet.
!" Il don't want 20 have any trouble
with Mr.. Holmes. and his explanation Of
this asfair Is that he, too wishes 10 get
her out OF the way. and has only been
Keeping her In town so that her daugh-
ter, who Ia about Is years old. might
rniHh her schooling. to enable her 10
teach and support her mother
Before she moved into the house. AZ
1918 Yakima avenue Mrs. DE witt rexfd
ed in the smaller house next door which
u also the property Of the ctainty, and
which she secured from the commission