Coeur d'Alene evening press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1907-1929, 1908-03-19
WANDERERS in
THEIR OLD AGE
"OYer the Hill to the Poor House"
in Real Life

Feeble and decrepit with age.
without suficient clothing to protect
them against the cold. without food
for furnishing nourishment to their
bodies. without funds to purchase
these necessities and without friends
to appeal to, Mr.. and Mrs. John
Lichence. an aged couple. ever since
last Monday have wandered from
place to place In the city Of Occur
d'Alene begging for food and shelter
at the hands OF strangers.
When seen by representative OF
the Press this afternoon the aged
couple had sought shelter In the
home Of H. w. Gross. Last evening
they stayed at the residence OF Pete
Charboneau. and prior 10 that they
had been occupants OF the home OF
Morris Humphrey.
The couple are OF French canadi-
an descent. the husband SO years OF
age and the wife 40 years, and the
story they tell Ii one Of poverty and
suffering and ill-treatment at the
hands OF a daughter and son-in-law,
Mr.. and Mrs. Joseph Mayer. The
couple had just made their entrance
into the Gross home when seen and
interviewed and the wife was still
shiveFing with cold. Mr.. Gross
stated he had found the couple sit
ting out on the porch Of his house
and had Invited them to come inslde,
and stated he intended TO take the
necessary steps 10 see that they were
provided and cared for.
The husband talks and under
stands but little English and the
wife did most OF the talking. Ae-
eording TO her story, she and her
husband came to Occur d'Alene
something like a year ago 10 live
with their daughter. Mrs. Joseph
Mayer. Prior to that time. she said,
they had been residing with an
adopted son In Michigan. The
father. she said, was growing old
and desired to come west and visit
his daughter, az she was the only
child, before he died, and II was this
that prompted them TO make the
journey. The adopted son, she stat
ed. had warned them at the time
that they would regret ever coming,
and that they had had occasion time
and again 10 regret II. II was i'm
possible for them to live with the
daughter. she said. because Of the
abuse and ill-treatment she bestowed
upon them, and last Monday after
some trouble they had left, and since
then had been dependent upon
strangers for food and shelter.
When asked as TO the character Of
the trouble last Monday evening. she
stated that the daughter had taken
the keys TO her trunk, extracted al
the things contained In IL. placed
them in the bedroom and locked the
door. At the time the daughter did
this, she said. she was away on q
visit with q nelghbor. She said she
accused the daughter Of unlocking
her trunk and taking the contents
and that the daughters reply there
TO was that she was a liar. and or
> dered her and her husband 10 pacl
up their goods and leave. This. sh'
said. they had done. and since ther
had been wanderers without q home
Both Of them stated that the adopted
son back in Michigan had been goot
and kind to them, and that thel
wanted TO return to him and that un
der no condition did they desire Il
return TO their daughter and family
The desire OF the couple is 10 be sen
either back to their adopted son o
taken to the county poor farm.
The case has been called to IN
> attention Of A. Blixt, justice Of IN
peace. and as soon as Commissions
J. Busby returns from Lane he VII
submit the case to him for eonsid
GRAFTON.
LOG DRIVERS STRIKE