The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1907-12-23
He Too Refused to Prosecute
Case and Instead Furnished
Provisions for the Unfortu-
nate Man and His Family.
FUND is GROWING RAPIDLY.
ARE DOING MUCH TOWARD AL
lEvlATiNG HARDsHiPs AND DIS
nEsS IN MANY HOMES.

To what extent the financial strin-
gency" has affected some Of the de-
serving laboring men of Richmond
was trikingly illustrated the past week
No names are given because 1t is not
necessary to add to the distress of the
family that has SO greatly felt the need
Of the necessities of life, but is is suf-
ficient to say that the man and his
family are we'll known and that the
others who figure in the case are a
member of the Richmond police force
and a very well known groceryman.
One day the past week 4 man enter
ed the store of the groceryman to
whom reference is made above,
and stood about for some time. appar-
emily anxious for one of the clerks to
wait on him. AS the store was filled
with customers it was considerable
time before he could be reached and in
the meantime it was noticed that he
left the store, taking a sack of flour
under his arm. AS the flour had not
been sold to him. the case was report
ed to the proprietor of the store, who
in turn reported it to the police and a
member of the force was detailed to
make the arrest.
When the officer arrived at the home
of the unfortunate man he made a dis
covery that drove from his mind all
idea of placing the accused under ar
rest. He found the wife and mother
mixing the stolen flour with water and
feeding the mixture to her children.
end that there was absolutely nothing
else in the house to eat. The con-
ditions were so distressing that the of
ficer returned to the store and said to
the proprietor: IF you wish an arrest
made in this case, you will have to
make it yourself: I cannot do it, He
then told of the conditions that he had
discovered.
The merchant decided that he would
make an investigation for himself and
SO went to the home in question and
found the conditions just as the officer
had reported them. Touched by the
deplorable situation, and knowing the
man TO be worthy. furthermore. mere
ly victim of circumstances. he re-
tui ned to his store and had sent to the
home large supply of groceries.
enough, in fact, to last the family for
several days. Others heard of the cir
Cumstances and it is needless TO say
that supplies will be ample until the
husband and father has again found
employment and is able to provide for
his family without assistance.
The case of this unfortunate man
who turned thief from sheer necessity
is cited as another example of the suf
fering among a certain class in this
city and to discredit the statement oi
a certain Main street merchant that
there was no suffering in Richmond
Y is TO relieve such families as the one
referred to, that the Palladium is ask.
ing its readers to subscribe to a fund
which will be turned over to The ASso
ciated Charities. All the money arr
supplies raised by the Palladium 70,
that worthy charitable organization
Will be used to the best advantage. 4
newspaper has a thousand eyes and
would know in minute if the money
raised by it for the relief of the wor
thy poor. was not devoted to such pur
pose. Give what you. can. reader. tc
this fund and see if you do not enjoy
your Christmas much more than you
would IL you gave nothing