Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1899-09-17
To What an End Whiskey and
Morphine Will Bring a Man.
LITTLE TOTS LEFT TO STARvE
While Their Father Pawns Everything in
the House But One Quilt for Money
toBuy liquor With. Friends
to Help the Children.

The exile in the Siberian mine, man
acted 10 4 fellow captive and a wheel
barrow, is not 50 much {, slave as T. l..
Cox.
| This man is now in the city Jail
| making its dismal corridors ring With
the uncouth rawlings of a whSkey and
morphine tiend.
Around on Twenty-sixth street are
his two pretty little girls, destitute Of
| food. clothing and fuel.
Their mother is lying in q graveyard
| in Suffolk.
Here is q sermon more eloquent than
lips can frame; more potent than DIS
course.
The story Of the life Of Z. L. Cox
is not Il strange one. He is now 35
years old and a wreck. Fifteen years
ago he was a man. Three years ago
he buried his Wife. Things went from
! bad TO worse in Suffolk. and after 4
while he brought his two little girls,
pretty, bright, Intelligent creatures.
twelve and ten years Of age to New
port News. and got a house at No. Sag
| TWenty-siNth street. He secured work
| on the piers.
| There was plenty of work for him to
do and money was to be made. He
could have clothed, fed and educated
|
himself but with that sefishness, which
is the first offspring Of the drink habit.
| he preferred to starve them and to
| make a brute of himself.
The older of the children went to a
neighbor and told her that she was
afraid to live longer with her father:
! that he was dangerous when he was
drunk or crazy with opium, and besides
| they We're starving.
The little girl told her sad story with
a pathos that brought ready sympathy.
She said that she had an aunt in
Smithfield, but could not go to her for
her aunt was a poor woman and had 81
large family to take care of. Mrs. F.
G. Brewer who lives next door to the
unfortunate little ones, took them in
and gave them food. Others, who
heard their story, offered their assist
ance. They continued to sleep in the
house their father had rented, but yes
terday the bad enough took a turn TOR
the worse and unless something is done
Immediately for the children they will
indeed be waits and estray-
Cox pawned everything in the house
but one blanket and disappeared. The
officers We're instructed ITO look for him.
While they We're looking, Cox came to
the station house to see some one and
| Il IL.
On his person We're found pawn tickets
for three quilts, a dozen glasses and
| coat.
| The man was far gone when taken
! in and a short time afterwards became
violent. DIR. Greasy was sent for ana
attended him. In the meantime kind
hearted ones We're looking after the
wants OF his deserted children.
What will be done with them is not
| known There are a number OF ladies
| who have taken an interest in them,
land perhaps some of them Will take
them. Indeed, Mr.. G.. F. Holsey, Of NO.
S5l Twenty-sixth street, has already
announced his Willingness to take one
Of the girls. I f they are not gotten into
| private homes, arrangements will have
to be made to send them to the Home
| III Richmond, unless the father can
/ demonstrate his ability to take care Of
I them and his Willingness to treat them
as father should treat his children.
The case is one OF the saddest that
has come into public notice here TO:
many a day.