Evening star., 1899-03-15
SAD TALE OF DISTRESS
Father of Family Ill, the Mother In
temperate.
Children Placed in Charge of Board
of ChiIdren's Guardians-Mat-
ter in Court Today.

Judge kfmball was called upon TINS
morning in the Police Court to deal with
peculiarly sad case, involving the separa-
ton OF mother and children. On account Of
illness, the husband was separated from the
other members of the family last night by
lis removal to the hospital fer treatment.
The woman in the case gave her name as
Pauline Samar, and she was charged under
the vagrancy act with being an habitual
drunkard. Her children, Annie, Charles
ard Joseph, aged respectively, fifteen,
eleven and six years. We're before the court
on a petition praying that they be turned
over to the board of chiidren's guardians.
Policeman Langley of the sixth precinct
and Agent Douglass of the board of chill
dren's guardians appeared as witnesses in
the case. The policeman told Judge
kimball that the Samar family had been
occupying The basement of No. 595 E street
northwest. The husband. who is tailor
by trade, has been ill for several months.
During his illness. the officer said, Mrs.
SImar has Been drinking
Her children hate her as they would
snake, the officer said.
According to the evidence neighbors have
been complaining of the conduct of the
woman. and the policeman had seen her
rnder the influence of liquor a number of
times.
Last night" the officer said, 1.-The police
had to remove the sick man to the hos
p!tal. and he seemed almost at the point of
death. The wife was in a stupid condition
from the use of liquor
How are the children supported?'' inter-
rupted the court.
Charlie blacks boots and sells Towers"
the officer answered. land l believe ne has
also been forced to do some begging.
Arrest Follows.
The officer said he met the woman near
9TH and F streets about $50 O'Clock this
morning with colorad man, and she said
she had been to the drug store to get some
medicine. He placed the woman under ar
rest, and when she got near judiciary
Square she dropped a bottle containing
alcohol.
Il got that for my rheumatism" the
woman Interrupted.
Agent Douglass informed the court that
When the caSe was reported to him he
called on Mrs. Samar and warned her that
unless her conduct improved she would lose
her children
Judge kimball questioned both Annie and
Charles. who gave evidence of being par
tcularly bright and interesting children.
Annie said she had been compelled to leaye
school on account of her mothers conduct
Al one time she appeared in dance on the
stage at the Bijou Theater. Her father she
sald, mad been sick for about nine months
and, on account of her mothers intemper-
ance, the family has been broken up
How much does your mother drink"
the judge asked.
rive or SIX glasses day. the child
answered.
Some people had given her mother money
she told the judge. to help her father but
half of it was usually spent for whisky
Charle also had a Dtiful story to tell
lie had blacked shoes. sold flowers and
done other things to earn a little money To
heIp his sick father. His mother he
thought. took about three drinks a day and
II was his opinion she got drunk every
other day.
Resorts tn
Policeman Gordon said he had seen Char
lie IN the Baltimore and Ohio depot beg
ging. The little boy. he said, was iumping
about the cars. and he had to order him
away, fearing he would get killed. On that
occasion the boy had two three dollars
on him.
What did you do with this money?, the
judge asked the boy.
Il got it from soldiers and gave it to nv
father" Was his response.
Mrs. Samar made a statement in her own
oehaif. She said she had done the best she
could for her husband. She could not sneak
onghsh well, and it was with some diff
Guilty she made herself understood
Where were you born?' the court in
qUired of her.
In. Poland. she answered, but I've
| been here d long time
Judge kimball made an order turning the
CT ndren over to the board of guardians,
and told the woman he would have to hold
her on account of her drinking The wo-
man begged the judge to let her go. ex-
planning her possession of the alcohol by
saying she had ii for medicinal purnoses
Policeman Langley told the judge that
| there was considerable property In the wo-
mans room, and he understood that IL was
soon to be put In the street
In order that she might have an onnor
/ tunity to protect her property the {16se
| said he would release her on her personal
1 bonds.