The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-08-24
Family Was Found Starving
in a Cellar.
Prattle of Babylani Echoes Through
the SOmbre Court Room.
Hereafter the Little Ones Will Receive
tn: Benefits of Charity.

There was pathetic scene in the NUM-.
cipal Court this morning Six liJtle
children sat on the north side of the
court room. They were tho offspring oil
Mrs. Elizabeth Studley, who died from
want and exposure in the Charity Hospital
building last Thursday.
She had been taken out OF q cellar at 18
Danforth street where she had been living
for about 10 days with her children. She
had been deserted by her husband, Will
liam Studley, since July ~.
Previous to her going to tho cellar she
had been elected from house in Olney-
Vile and one in South Providence, and on
her account her brother had been ordered
out of the tenement at Is Danfortb street.
She was taken to the Charity Hospital
week ago last Friday by Overseer of the
Poor Cummings, he having been notified
of the woman's distress by Charles I'll.
Thurber, agent of the Society for the
Prevention of Cruelty TO Children.
She was suffering from an attack OF
peurisy and the disease had made such,
inroads upon her constitution because of
her miserable surroundings that assist
ance was of no avail and she died, leaving
tho little ones to the care of charity.
The children were taken in TO the
Municipal court at noon today under tho
charge Of Agent Thurber and Overseer
Cummings. They were also accom- panied
by the brother and sister of the dead
mother.
The children were James. 13 years old;
Sarah. 10; Willie, z; Martha. 8; John,
3 and Andrew, 2.
They were bright looking little ones
and the two year old was toddling
about the knees Of his brothers and sis
ters prattling in the language of babyland.
James and Sarah seemed to realize their
surroundings but the others were as we'll
satisfied as though they were In palace.
1t was q pitful sight at its best and
those in the court room felt the force OF
helplessness in big city. Charity, how
ever. we'll directed, had stretched out its
hand TO these little waits. and from now
until they arc able to care for themselves,
they will not know the pangs Of hunger
or the chill of winters bleak winds.
Agent Thurber read the warrant forsthe
care TO Judge Sphinx and Overscer of the
Poor Cummings testified as to the finding
or the Studley family In the Danforth
street cellar and their pitiable plight
They were without foot or decent cloth
ing. The only articles of furniture in the
place were table and lounge. They
had been abandoned by their inhuman
father.
The family had been assisted by the
poor department for about year. Tho
father had represented that he was sick
and out of employment, but it was sub
sequently learned that he was shainming.
A short time ago Mrs. Studley had
told him that she was living in cellar,
and in company with Agent Thurber he
visited tho place and found the greatest
destitution.
The family was then taken to the char
ity building where the mother died.
Ovorseer Cummings said that the family
had been deserted 10y the father two or
three times during the past six months.
Agent Ihurber testified beforethe court
that early in tho spring he had been
notified of the state of affairs After that
the landlord had threatened to put them
out of their tenement. The father re-
turned about that time and he heard no
more of the family until they were set
out by tho ownsr Of the property.
lie gave details regarding the troubles
of the family up TO the last extremity
when they were found in the cellar
At the conclusion of the testimony
Judge Sphinx gave the custody of the
children To the Society for the Prevention
OF Cruelty To Children.
The four Oldest James, Sarah. Willie
and Martha were taken TO the St
Aioysius Orphan Asylum at South
Providence and John and Andrew were
taken To the home on Camp street.