Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-10-20
AGED WOMAN SC0RNS CHARITY
TALENTED AND ONCE RICH,
NOW POOR AND ALONE
But She Wants to Take Care of
Herself and Court Submits
to Her Pride.

I'm not so very old. Judge can Still
work and support myself.
Besides, have little money tied up in
litigation which should come to me very
soon.
You know, l can go back into the
government employ and act as an in
terpreter of French and Italian. There are
lots of other things 1 can do besides.
"Oh no, / don't want to go to any
home, because I'm really not old enough"
Aged, poor. friendless without employ
ment, shrinking from public charity. Mrs.
Rebecca E. Mitchell, widow OF a former
business man of Washington. was found
this morning In Police Court before Judge
Kimball on charge of vagrancy.
Mrs Mitchell. in addition to being prom
inently connected with the social life OF
tho District twenty or more years ago, Is
highly educated and is said to be wom-
an of exceptional talent. She is the daugh-
ter of the late DR.. Richard 8. Mason.
second president of Hobart College, IN
New York state. who was one OF the emil
nent educators Of the country When MRS.
Mitchell first came to washington
This is one of the saddest cases" said
Judge Kimball today, (which has ever
come under my observation. She's pow
erty stricken, too old to take care of her
to go to a charitable home
II trust her relatives or friends will take
permanent care of her. but they don
she will surely have to be committed
against her WILL.
The hearing took place in Police Court
today. after a weeks adjournment. Mrs
Mitchell at that time pleaded hard for
a chance to secure work whereby 10 sup
port herself. Today the case against her
was dismissed on the understanding that
distant
tives who might provide for her, and
under her own assurance that she would
The action against Mrs. Mitchell. who is
sixty-three years old. was due 10 oergE
Murphy of the tenth precinct. who was
aroused from bed at midnight several
weeks ago by citizens who told him there
was an old woman In an alley near Har-
ward street, wandering aimlessly ABOUT
and apparently unable to take care of her
self. Sergt. Murphy repaired to the alley
and found Mrs. Mitchell. She told MIN
she was hunting for friends.
She was later turned over to the mem
bers of the Episcopal Church, who cared
for her temporarily. Last week sne was
arraigned before Judge Kimball prepare
tory to committing her to some suitable
home. The hearing extended to cross
examination of Mrs. Mitchell: several
persons interested in her welfare said
that efforts had been made to find a place
for her in one of the church homes with
ont success 1t was proposed for the
time being to commit her to public In
stitution.
Mrs. Mitchell pleaded hard to he per-
n,itted TO look for work and take care OF
herself Her request was temporarily
granted at the time.
This morning she again pleaded for the
right to take care of herself. or the as
sistance of relatives who would take care
of her permanently. This was finally
granted through dismissal of the case.
The case has been under the observation
of the authorities for some time. Every
effort has been brought to bear upon the
aged woman to consent to go to home
suit able for her without success.