The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-01-26
HAD FEW COMPLAINTS.
Topeka Poor Evidently Suffered Little
During Severe Weather.

There is something remarkable about
the present extremely cold weather,
and that is the small number Of COM
plants at Poor Commissioner Hale's
office in the court house, and at Po-
lice Matron Thorpe's department at the
city Jail. Usually When the tempera-
ture tumbles away below the ezro mark
as 1t did last night, the next morning
is characterized at these ~help-giving
stations with piteous tales OF woe. hard
ship and suffering.
Mrs thorpe said that most of the
requests made for coal from her were
peculiar. All that was wanted was that
she secure credit at some coal dealers
for them Altogether Mrs. Thorpe
stood good" for $35 worth Of coal for
poor people Wednesday, all of them
saying that they would liQuidate the
obligation when they received their pay
at the end of the month
The poor people of the city do not
seem to be suffering nearly as much
said Mrs. Thorpe this morning. In by
far the majority of instances the re-
quests came from people who have a
little income. The bad weather truck
them at Just the end of the month and
they did not have the ready money on
hand. All they asked for was that I
stand security for them to get a half
ton or SO of coal. I have no real bad
cases reported at all. Most of the Door
people in Topeka evidently have work.
I can of purse use contributions of
clothes at all times. There are always
some poor children in own who can
be helped in that way"
County Commissioner Hale is not be-
ing overrun with orders for coal and
fuel either. as is to be expected in ex-
tremely cold weather. OF course the
demand on him is much greater than
usual, but in most instances the peo-
pie are asking only for coal, and a
good many of these are regular appli-
cants.
fare you giving away much coal?''
was asked of Mr.. Hale this morning.
mo, nothing extra" was his reply
when cold weather comes, such as we
are having, a good many requests al
ways come to my office. Many of them
are from people who are helped right
along. I have no extreme cases report
ed to me however"
A pathetic case, as a result of the
cold did, however come to the attention
of the county officers Wednesday. Mrs.
Shadrach Sims. whose husband was
killed in a fight last August, came to
the court Gus with her eight children,
to attend the trial of her husbands as
sailant. He pleaded guilty and was
sentenced.
There was no need for the eight ba-
bies to be present at the hearing, but
Mrs. Sims brought them along. They
live at 1911 East Fifth street and walked
all the way to the court house before
8 o'clock. When they arrived the chill
dren were almost frozen. The colored
janitOrS at the court house gathered
them up and took them in the register
of deeds office Application of cold
cloths were applied assiduously. The
babies were sobbing with pain, and
about half the force of clerks in the
ofiees busted themselves to give the
children a little comfort.
They were kept in the register OF
deeds office until about IL o'clock
Some extra wraps were secured ana a
collection taken up from the bystanders
to hire a hack to send the family back
home.