The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1908-07-28
County Commissioners Re-
fuse Money to Send Aged
Man to His Home.

Consistency Is a jewel which has
no place In the official lives Of the
county commissioners
John Tierney. an inmate OF the
poor farm. 20 years OF axe and
bowed down with a sorrow which
seldom comes to the life 81 man. Is
grleying himself into the grave De.
cause the commissioners have seen
at. in their exalted wisdom, 10 rv-
fuse him the mere plttance uecea'
rary 10 pas his fare back to Cincin.
natl
Mayor Miller investigated the
case weeks ago and found fierney
deserving. The commissioners re-.
fused Ia pay for the mans ticket 10
his home unless some ~ bis rela
lixrs would guarantee 10 provide
Tor him afterwards
The mayors private secretary
John Slattery. finally located a ais.
ter Ia Cincinnati. who said she
would BE- only too glad 10 care Tor
the man 8urlng hts lifetime. u nee.
cHaary.
COMMISSIONER Refuse Help.
Highly elated siaitery notified
Tiernay. the latter dressed w ~
his best clothes and thea FASTENED
70 the commissioners office. salts
fled that the way had at last been
opened - nil his remaining DAYS
with the pleasure which had trseu
denied him Tor 80 many munths.
The exaci statements 81 the com.
mlaaianers are not knoNn. but Tier
ney came back down the hill "a the
mayors Office hFnken.hrartcd and
apparently aged 10 years Ia almost
A. many minutes
80 reported that the commits
ninnern had declined 20 buy him The
promised ticket They have In their
la5maaaainn q fund especially Tor the
assistance OF such dmaefviug cases
siafters vas surprised and called
M the commissioners offiCa aEain.
explaining that all the conditions
had been fulfilled he received very
little satisfaction and TisrneY had
~ send hIa way back % the poor
farm. only expressing the desire
that his troubles would Aoun b.
ended
Case ls ptlfvl.
Tiernoy'a case Il pathetic lie
was formerly fairly weiiiado la
Cincinnati. but hard times came
and little hy little bis mite against
old age abbed away Mosi men
would have been completely crush
ed by such a blow a. the age Of
three score and ten. bat not Tier
ney tie provided Tor his family ~
best be could and came 10 the west.
the land Of promise. 10 build anew.
Here b. found there vas no place
IN the busy walks Of life for the
decrepit OF feeble. Hls muscles
could not stand 40 under the press
IRE ike those of the younger gen
GRAFTON. The old man was eih9wed
aside
The story has been heard before
TierueY ran out ~ funds He be-
came ~. chiefly from hts anxiety
about the Nffc and family back
home. lie wondered whether they
had enough 70 eat. OF clothes To
wear. and y terrible pain seemed 90
gnaw NJ the old mans heart Dies.
pernte and almost starved himself
he set aside his pride and went 20
the mayors office.
The eity's chief executive aud his
secretary Immediately gave Tierney
what assistance they could and pro.
vided him temporary quarters until
they could gei him transportation
back to his home
Because they were especially
provided with money TO care for
such cases. Tierney WAS sent 10 the
commissioners.
The commissioners have thou
sands OF dollars which they can ~
ter away among the favored con
tractors. IN the way Of extras" and
emergencies
For Old John Tieruey there e.
nothing apparently. but the poor
farm. and the sorrow Of family
divided Ia It's days of trouble