The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-08-25
MISFORTUNE PURSUES
FAMILY OF A. SOLDIER

ment Insane Asylum he was discharged
from the army. He was at the asylum
for nearly a year. and was then pro-
nounced cured and transferred to the
Soldiers Home.
The fourth child. Henry. chose civilian
life. Nine years ago he was farming
near Seabrook. III. He left there. and
since nothing has been heard of or from
him..
Two Brothers in Asylum.
William was still in st. Elizabeth's
when his next younger brother. JOSEPH.
also a soldier, was brought there from
the Philippines. Six weeks later Joseph.
who had twice before attempted suicide.
eluded his guards and jumped from a
third story window He never recov-
cred consciousness. William brooded
over his Brothers death, maintaining
that mistreatment by a non-commis-
stoned officer in the army had been
largely responsible for his insanity.
The next child was a girl. who died
as the result of an accident when she
was fourteen years old. Then came
the youngest. John. handsome and
bright. and his mothers pride. He was
in his second enlistment. when. in No
vember, 1900. while on his way to Ma
Mia. he disappeared as did his brother
Martin before him.
Two daughters dead. two sons self
murderers, and three disappeared from
her ken, the mother sits in her little
front room. in a humble brick. fronting
on the alley in the rear of 615 Maryland
Avenue southwest. with faraway gaze
in her eyes, brooding over those gone
forever. and hoping against hope that
the others will some day, before II is
too late, send some word to her hungry
mothers heart.
Mother Tells Sad Story.
She sat so yesterday. when her TOY
was being buried in a soldiers grave in
the beautiful cemetery at the Soldiers
Home, for she was not strong enough
10 attend the funeral. IL was there that
a reporter found her. and listened to this
story as it fell from her lips. though
without a word Of complaint. She he
Iieves unfalteringly in Gods Will. and is
sure that some day her children VIII
write to her-when they are doing well
and are in a position to offer their eyed
parents financial assistance, or home.
And as the mother talks ot her chill
dren who have brough naught but sor-
row 70 her. she produces dfashioned
daguerr/otypes of them when they were
children, and she tells which enc broke
this frame or that glass in infantiIe gam
bols Then she will show photographs
of them in later life. most OF them in
the uniform of their country. She is an
old woman. and a sad one.
1t is about time that some of the abb
'sent children provide home for the
aged couple. A year ago in April last
IL was found impossible for the pair 10
live on the So a month pension. The
wife was left in the little alley house
while the husband went to live in the
Soldiers Home. He was thus an in
mate at the same time with his son.
Some weeks ago he obtained a furlough
which he has been spending at home
Both were there when the son arrived
last week on a short furlough- The
rest OF the story is known. They feel
grateful that he spent his last days at
home. They are certain that he was
again insane when he took his life The
dead man was buried at the Soldiers
Home yesterday afternoon at O'Clock
the father standing by the chaplain as
taps sounded and the three volIeys were
fired.