The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-12-16
FEEBLE VETERAN
 TELLS SAD STORY William Pearson Calls on Chiet
 of Police Wier SENT TO HILL MAN HOSPITAL Said He Was Without Friends and Money and Needed Hospital Treat
 ment-Served With Gen.
 Lee In Virginia.
SENT TO HILL MAN HOSPITAL

Weak and feeble and rapidly losing his memory from the effects Of fever which racked him for nine long months, Will liam Peason, a Confedeate veteran, went to the office of Chief of Police Wier Mon day afternoon in search of aid.
 Slowly, step by step. he had dragged himself to the office from the East Lake ear line and with the assistance of one of the policemen he reached the Chiefs the hospital, wher he could be given proper treatment, or that he be given a warm place where he could spend the night without suffering from the cold.
 Chief Wier and City Physician Whelan took the matter in hand and sent the old man to the Hillman hospital where he was given a bed in the charity ward and treatment was commenced, which Will gave him chance to recover his strength.
 The story of the old veteran is one of pathos and trouble. With halting words and frequently choal<ing from emotion, and tears streaming down his shrunken cheeks, he told the following story of his troubles
 For the past nine month 1 have been suffering with a fever and have not had medical attention. l have been living With relatives in East Lake, but was burden to them because I could not work and was of little assistance. This morning they turned me out of the house and told me that I would have to go and fine work, or take care of myself.
 "The fever has settled in my limbs and I can hardly move. I thought that if l came to the chiefs office he would let me rest in the city jail tonight and to- morrow I could go and try to get into one of the hospitals. Do they have a place at the hospitals where a poor man can go and not have to pay? l hope so, for I haven't got thing in the world. By trade l am a cooper, but l have not been able to work for nearly year, and I haven't a cent now.
 while I was sick 1 had to nurse my self and take care of myself. I had no doctor because could not pay one."
 When the old veteran was questioned about his age and where he served In the war; the colonel of his regiment and other facts, his memory seemed to fade away and 1t was only after much thinking that he was able to tell.
 "I was 15 years old in 1863 and went Into the army I served two years in the Fifteenth Georgia volunteers and was under General Lee in Virginia. My colonel was Colonel Jones. I am married man, but for a long time have not been with my wife. She is somewhere in Calhoun county If any of you can get me to the hospital I would appreciate it very much.
 'T don't like to complain. but I am getting old and feeble now and this sick ness has left me helpless Is there some place where l could go and pass the rest of my life? If I was able to work I could make my living, but I am so weak that I can hardly stand up."
 When told that ambulance had been called and that he was to be taken to hospital and cared for until he was well, the old mans face frightened and through his wrinkles a smile appeared. He was helped into the ambulance and carried to the hospital, where everything possible is being done for him.