Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1902-04-29
POVERTY RETCHEDNESS.

1t was reported Thursday to the au-
thorities of Mosinee that farmer by
the name of Ed. Sawley, who lived out
of the village some distance, had de-
serted his wife and family and left them
in destitute circumstances. An inves-
tigation was instituted by the chairman
of the town, who found the report to be
true. He found that the woman had
also abandoned her children, seven in
number, whose ages lange from nine
months to seven years There was
scarcely any food in the house, and the
youngest child was near the point of
death from hunger and cold. Sawley
came to Mosinee several months ago
and shortly afterward was arrested by
the sheriff of Clark county for abandon,
ment Of family and was taken to Neills-
vile. A short time afterward he reap
work on rented farm The battle of
life to them was an unequal struggle,
and it kept them guessing to keep
body and soul together and satisfy the
cravings of four small hungry children.
They claimed no particular county for
home and it appears they have wan
dered about the country a great deal.
On the day when the town chairman,
Frank OConnor, went to the house the
woman had gone away to a distant
neighbours early In the morning and re-
NAMED away all day leaving her chill
dren in the condition aforemen-
toned The baby was given milk and
it is said to have swallowed two full
bottles before it became satisfied SO
great was its hunger. The mother and
children were brought to the city by
Messrs. 0CoGuor and Sullivan on Sat.
urday and taken before Judge Miller
where application was made to have the
children committed to some orphanage
where they may receive better home
than their parents could ever provide
for them and receive An education and
become good members of society.
They are all boys and are bright, intell-
igent, good looking little fellows. The
case was postponed until yesterday
morning at ten O'Clock in order that
witnesses could be obtained to prove
whether or not the mother is capable of
caring for her young She is an invet-
crate talker and declared that should
her children be taken from her that she
would kill herself.
Yesterday at the appointed hour the
woman appeared in court with the chill
dren, and there were plenty of wit
nesses present from the town of Emmett
and village of Mosinee. The testimony
of these witnesses was sufficient to con
vince anyone that the woman is entirely
incapable of properly caring for the
little ones, and that it would be a crime
to allow them to be brought up in pow
erty and ignorance, when a good home
and education can be afforded them at
the states expense. At the conclusion
of the taking of testimony the Judge
deemed it wise and proper that the
mother should be separated from the
boys, and he ordered that the little ones
be placed in the Orphans Home at
Sparta, there to remain until they are
able to earn their own living. The
woman, of course, as is natural for
mother. made a strong plea to retain
possession, and when. told they must
part then asked that he baby be left
her, but this could not be done. The
children viii be taken to their new home
at an early date, but wrat is TO become
of the woman is a matter of conjecture.
She is without money and will be thrown
on the charity of the world for it would
be difficult for her to secure a position
IN any household for the reason that she
is not desirable member and talks too
much
Since being housed in the county jail
the woman has been the recipient of
many presents in the way of clothes and
other articles for herself and the chill
dren. which they badly needed