Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1900-09-27
MISERY ENDED BY DEATH.

Charles II. COURTNEY ana uaughter vi |
Carter Hemphill Of Bridgeville. formerly
Of this city, died yesterday week at the
New Castle County Hospital at Farm
hurst, of an internal afllictlcn (which
| caused b, eailing down Of the system.
Fure al took place Thursday afternoon.
| Interment was made ut Riyerriew |
cemetery beside the grave OF Mrs. |
| Courtney IS mother, who died some time |
ago. Deceased was 30 years of age and |
one non, Char es p. Courtney, DR.,
aged 13 years SURVIVES her.
Mrs. Courtney was at one time in
affluant circumstance but poverty
caused her much suffering for some
time before her death. In Childhood
she was one of the most interesting
and entertaining girls in Biandywine
Village, where her father lived, and
was liked by everybody who knew her.
Her parents were In moderate circum-
stances, and, having a desiie TO earn
her own living, when a young woman
she found employment at the Arlington
Mills rs weaver, which calling she
learned to master we'll.
| Being popular she had many friends,
among whom was Charles p. Courtney,
son of the dateyHenry B. Courtney,
who was then president Of the Swift &
Courtney & Beeeher Co. of this city,
one of the leading matchmaking
establishments Of the void. Young
Courtney sought and won the hand OF
Miss Hemphill and about 16 years ago
they were married. The young wife
had resigned her position in the Arl-
ngton Mills and after the marriage she
and her husband made their home
, with the Courtney family at the old
Courtney Mansion, No. 102 East Six
tenth street. subsequently they pur-
chased comfortable residence OF
French street between Ninth and Tenth
; and lived there in good circumstances
, for some time, I1
} About five years after the marriage OF
, young Courtney and Miss Hemphill,
Hepry B. Courtney, the father, died,
leaving an estate estimated at the time
, to be worth 81, 500, 600, which included
, large interest in the match making
( business. The estate was divided
. among the children. Those who had
reached their majority received their
7 share at the time and the remainder of
{ the fortune was held in trust for the
: minor children, each to receive his or
her share as he or she became of age.
i Charles P. Couft1ey having reached
8 the age of manhood received his money
y at the time, which is said to have been
Q s35, 600, besides an interest in the
: match making business which was said
o to have been worth $4,000. 1t is under
stood that the young man realized the
of the opinion that his share was more
u like 500, 600. 5s.,5sl
At any rate, Mr.. and Mrs. Charles
P. Courtney were wealthy people i'm
mediately after the estate was settled,
y but the husband was such "a kind
hearted man and no had SO many
|, friends who wanted assistance that his
:, fortune soon began to dwindle down.
y Coupled with, bis loss through his
. iiherality, Mr.. Courtney contracted
= consumption about eight years ago and
: was sick much of the time until about
! four years ago, when he died. At the
= time he was Ia reduced circumstances,
!. and his family was left with very
gloomy prospects. Some time before
his death he had been compelled to
o sacrifice his property and as he had
e lost his fortune through adverse cir
u cumstances he lived with his family al
:, various places, at Fourteenth and Tat
i nall streets, Mousley's Row, near Mar,
!, ket street and Elliott avenue, and or
>, Gordon street near Market.
Il Mrs. Courtney was devoted to hei
- young son and being an industriou:
~ woman she went to work TO make liv
- ing for herself and child. She moved
\, back to Mousley's Row and kept house
'e there for about three months, aftei
= which she lived at other places. Sh,
was not strong and not able to d,
hard work, but she secured temporar,
employment at the restaurants of A. l.
Ainscow and Clarence r Holt, at diff
ferent times, where she washed dishe
and did light work. She also dit
ly similar work at other places, but as he
es health was broken down was not abb
al to continue.
10 For several weeks prior to two week
I'd ago, when she came to the attention o
8; the police, she did what work she coul,
Id during the day. when she was PHYSICAL
to able, and at plight she and her younj
re son slept in stables, hay lofts, out
Id houses and lighthouses south of Marke
street bridge. It was this method o
~ living which brought her to the atten
lis tion of the authorities.
Oh Two weeks ago the police made a
ou investigation and after searching th
nd South Side found the son, who wa
ne turned over to the custody of the Sc
It, ciety for the Prevention Of Cruelty
to Children, which has found home &c
him. On the following day the mothe
he was located by Policeman Winthro
a and McGillon and taken to the polio
Die station. She was physical wreck an
a the authorities wanted to send her
We the county hospital at once, but st
he stronuously objected. Her objection
we're overruled, however, and the ola
'rf after the arrest she was sent to I'll
ow hospital where she novered betwee
life and death until yesterday weel
when the end came.