The evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1907-1908, 1907-12-09
Under-Sheriff Aroused by
Starvation Case. Puts
Blame on Baldwin.
WIRES SINGING REBUER
IF 1t Had Been a Politician OF
SalOonkeeper | Suppose You
Would Have Acted" He
ShOuts.-AlIiston Family
Hungry..CaIled Neglect.

Overseer of the Poor William A.
Baldwin and Under-Sheriff Charles M.
Mason were the principals in a lively
tilt over the long-distance telephone
today The heated debate resulted
after constables from the sheriff's
office discovered family in the SOUTH
ern section of the city in want and
destitute, with the father out of work
and the mother dying of pneumonia.
The constables went out on a tour
yesterday to find violators of the ex-
else law, and while passing 1a515
Thomas street were stopped by q
youth who told them of the condition
of the family within. Constable Over
miller was in command, and with his
companions found that the family was
that of Benjamin Alliston. The wife
was in critical condition and under
the care of Alliston's aged mother
There were five children, all of tender
age, without shoes and sufficient
clothes. Tie breakfast had consisted
of stale bread and sauerkraut.
That the constables were moved
would be putting it mildly. They all
dug down in their pockets, and in a
short time a neat sum was in hand and
was given the starving children and
old Mrs. Alliston. One of the consta-
bles hurried to a nearby grocery and
left word to send the Alliston family
sufficient food for the week. He ins
troduced himself as one of the cpnsta.
bles from the sheriffs Office. The good
natured storekeeper was at first In
clined to doubt the stranger, but when
the officer displayed his badge she was
more than convinced.
Under Sheriff Mason advised Consta-
BILE OverniIler to report the case to the
Salvation Army. This was done and
the constables left, feeling that their
days work was well done.
Constable Joseph Ellis was today
dispatched to Overseer Baldwin with
word to request that the district
physician be sent at once to the AL
liston home. This resulted in the over
seer 'phoning thet under-sheriff. He
stated that he did not know who the
district physician was, This led the
county official to remark that it seemed
strange that the overseer of the poor
was not aware of such a fact. and he
commented on it openly and the over
seer in turn put it up to the Board OF
Health.
''WelI, it Is your place as oyerseer OF
the poor to send the district physicians
to the homes of the poor" said the
under-sheriff. THAT is what you are
being paid for. and no district physi-
clan will hesitate to perform such q
duty either"
Mr.. Baldwin asked the under-shertm
If he knew with whom he was speak
ing and MIR. Mason answered him in the
affirmative.
Il suppose If 1t was politician or .
saloonkeeper you would send aid and ..
doctor down to the house in hurry.
was Mason's next remark.
He then asked that the constable ba
allowed the use of the telephone. and
when Ellis did so the undeI-sherim ad-
vised him to communicate with the Board
of Health and find out the name Of the
district physician, and visit him in person
and relate the circumstances.
"You stay at that house all day, toe"
was his order to Ellis, land see il the
overseer of the poor looks into the case,
and tell him that those are your orders"
Mr.. Baldwin again took the phone and
told Mr.. Mason that he would try to
send physician to the house.
Eyes, I suppose you will after she is
dead" replied the under-sheriff.
When the under-sheriff reported the mat
ter to Sheriff Sommer and told of his
set-to with Baldwin. the sheriff remarked
that it was "a pretty state of affairs
What! the overseer isn't aware who
the district physician is? Why, how in
the world do those people expect to aid
the poor il they don't work together?s
exclaimed Sheriff Sommer.
Constable Overmiller refused to discuss
any of the details Of the case and re-
quested that his name be omitted. You
are a bit too modest" he was told,
Mr.. Mason said that the Alliston man,
from facts he learned through investiga-
tion, had served two terms In the United
States navy and had an honorable dis
charge and was an expert ironworker.
The county officials will do their utmost to
procure work for Alliston.