The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1898-09-20
HECKER'S
HARD hot !
A Former Resident of Town In an
Insane Asylum.
TRYING TO SHIFT THE CARE
Bradford County ofhcials Say schuylkill
County Must Assume charge Of the
Unfortunate Man--1t is a CUES
tion of Transient and Perm
anent Residence.

tiOn OF Transient and Perm
anent Residence.
Many people of this place will remember a
former resident in the person of NJ. Hecker,
a crayon artist. He lived here for about
fifteen months, keeping house at No 3Os
West Centre street. with his wife and child.
He advertised his calling through coupons
published in the HERALD and did a lucrative
business for several months. The field
eventually worked out, reverses set in and
Hecker decided to seek pastures new. He
was heard Of twice after leaving this town
once when his wife was reported dying in
Elmira, n. Y, and yesterday, when the
HERALD was requested by telephone to make
inquiry aud learn if man named NJ. Hecker
ever resided in Shenandoah and anything
incidental within convenient reach.
Naturally enough the HERALD sought the
reasons for the queries and was informed that
Hecker is an inmate of an insane asylum at
Bradford, Pa The officials of Bradford
county claim that Hecker is resident of
Schuylkill county and the officials of the
latter county must assume care Of him.
Hecker's lot has been sad one. Little
was learned of his history during his resi-
>
and unassuming disposition, but sufficient
was CLEANED to know that he was well bred
and educated and came of good family. II
was limited more than once that some in
discretion had led to dsinheritance. 1t wa
certain that a cloud hovered somewhere il
his history.
| In seeking the information asked HERALI
reporter called upon Mrs. John Dougherty
Of 3Os West Centre street. Yes, she remcm
bored the crayun artist and his wife, we'll
They rented one Of her houses for about a
year and she always found the couple good
tenants and quiet courteous neghbors Some
time during last December, or January, the
couple found that the local field had been
pretty well worked out and a change of
location was necessary. Elmira n. Y, was
decided upon as the destination and Mrs.
! Dougherty never heard Of the couple again
until the reporter called to seek information.
Before moving away Hecker decided that
| it would be more economical to sell his house
hold effects than to pay freight on them, and
they were advertised for sale. Among the
people who called at the house to make pur-
chsses was Mrs. James Mclaughlin, Of West
Cherry street. During the talk over the
furniture Mr.. and Mrs. Hecker spoke of their
infant child and said they wished some
family would take care of it until they could
secure permanent location some place. Mrs.
Mclaughlin very generously agreed to take
the child, and retained possession Of it until
some time last spring, when the mother wrote
and asked that it be sent to her at Elmira.
Mrs. McLaughlin's family hsd become deeply
attached to the child and the little
ono evnced a similar feeling toward
| the family. On this account there was
| hesitanCy about surrenderiug the child,
! especially as neither the father nor mother
called ia person and asked for the custody A
few days later, however, telegram was re-
ceived from Emira, stating that the mother
was on her death bed and wanted TO see the
child before passing away. A request was
made that the child be sent to Elmira by ex-
press at the earliest possible moment. 1t was
promptly complied with, and the relations o
| the Mclaughlin and Hecker families ended
| there. Whether or not the mother died wa
never learned but from the intelligence re
ceived from Bradford it is presumed that tn,
poor woman's trials ended at Elmira
The letter received from Bradford is in
possession of the Schuylkill Haven aims
house officials. 1t is explicit in but one re.
speet, and that is in expressing the deter.
minaton of the Bradford county officials TO
be relieved of the care of Heckcr. They say
he took sick in Bradford, become insane
while in the hospital, and is now in an in
sane asylum, a Clarge upon the county ThC
letter also states that it is known tina
Hecker lived in Shenandoah from September
1896, to January, 1898, and paid taxes to Ia!
Collector Edward Burke. This residence 0
over year and payment of taxes, tn
Bradford county officials claim, shoulder
the responsibility for Hecker's car
upon Schuylkill county. 1t is unde
stood, however, that the officials Of thi
county will refute the claim on the groun,
that, Notwithstanding the period of resdenc
and payment of taxes here, Hecker was
transient resident, and that the character o
his business and subsequent removal prove,
it, Poor Director Stephen Middleton was il
town to-day securing evidence to side tract
the responsibility of this county.
The letter from Bradford makes no refer
ence to Hecker's wife and child, other thar
to ask If Hecker had a wife while he reside,
here.
The case is an interesting one in man,
respects, 1t is not only vivid ILLUSTRATION
of the hardships some poor mortals have Il
contend with in this world in their struggle
for an existence but il also lays bare al
| excellent example Tor the authorities of thi
county to follow. Hecker was man O
education, ability and refinement He was
citizen and taxpayer but now that he is i'll
without money or friends and, worse than all
deprived Of his reason, his helpless frame i
a shuttlecock in game OF responsibilit,
between two counties as TO who shall Civ,
his wrecked body shelter. There have beer
cases in this county where people hav,
become charge upon the taxpayers within
a few months after their arrival in thi,
country from across the sea. These pool
creatures were not responsible for this, bu
had Bradford county diligence been exercised
the responsibility would have been fixed, and
no doubt at the very doors of the immigra
tion headquarters. Perhaps poor Hecker'i
case may be a foundation for great reform
DiCkert's Cafe
Baked beans aud pork tonight. Clan
soup tomorrow morning.