Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-10-23
.lEPER IS ANSWERED
Shaw Tells Why Fund Was
Turned Over.
COMMITTEE RESPONSIBLE
Mrs. Early Has Received $400.50 Of
$1,154.57 Collected.
"MONEY NEVER REFUSED HER"
Contributors Entitled to Know What
Donations Were Used For, Is
Els Attitude.
Committee RESPONSIBLE
MONEY NEVER REFUSED HER"

| Edgar D. Shaw. of the special commit
tee formed some months ago to raise a
| fund for the relief of John Early. the
| leper, and his wife and baby. today
answered complaint Of Early that the
money raised had not been turned over to
his wife.
| Mr.. Shaw states that the sum of
81, 154.57 was raised for the relief of the
Early family. OF this sum $4OO.jO had
been paid to Mrs. Early up to October T..
| The dates when Mrs Early received
money and the amounts are as follows:
August 81 SIS: September 4, $50; Sep
;ember s. SIS: September g express on
tox). so cents: October l, $50 and October
II 500.
| Mrs. Early in six weeks. Joined with the
| fact that in the same time $165.2O of back
pension money has come into their hands
Is. ! think, - said Mr.. Shaw. sunlcient
| suffered for comforts. The dates of the
! payments make plain that the money
went to her from the fund almost from
| Its beginning.
Earlys Knew Of Fund.
| This is the best answer to the state
ment that Mrs. Early was never notified
| OF the fund. although published inter-
views with both Mr.. and Mrs. Early at
| the time Of the inception Of the fund
| showed both their knowledge and their
gratitude.
mot only has Mrs. Early never been
refused money but. in the case of the
$50 payment mentioned she was given $50
| more than she asked for in order that
she might not need. to withdraw money
from the bank. where she had small
amount deposited.
81 presume that Mr. Early was led to
talk about the fund because of a differ
ence in opinion as to its handling. Oc-
| tober IL. when Mrs. Early was given the
5000, she said she felt that they were en-
titled to have the whole fund turned over
| to them at once and In full, to be ex-
pended as they might choose and with
out any accounting to anybody.
II told her then, as had before. that
personally I felt responsibility in the
matter to the people whose money made
up the fund; that these people should
know in general way for what their
ing. housefurnishings or general living
expenses, and that receipts for the money.
showing these divisions of expenses.
should be on file for the inspection of any
contributor who might ask for them.
"A representative of mine. who saw
Mr.. Early the next day. found he was
also strong in the conviction that he was
rightfully entitled to the whole fund at
once and without any accounting. Since
then the matter has been under discus
sion and confederation by the three per-
sons who form the committee having In
charge the disbursement Of the fund
Easier to shirk Responsibility.
II feel sure that the contributors will
realize that the easiest way for the COM
n, TT "a 4. 70 turn <ho ynonov oyor In full
and that the only consideration which
deters them from doing this Is a sense
Of responsibility to the contributors that
a proper record Of expenditures shall be
kept
by this it is not to be inferred that
the committee has attempted to require
a too specific accounting for the expenses
OF the Early household. 1t has only
asked that a general statement be fur
nished as to what the money was used
for, without requiring the setting out
OF minor expenses.
Many contributors. doubtless. who
kept in touch with Ear1y's condition, the
growth OF the fund and the probability
OF his having to remain permanently in
the District, contributed In the hope that
eventually cottage might be erected
for the family. or that Mrs. Early and
her child might remain In comfortable
quarters SO long as she remained in
Washington.
THE fund was started not only with a
desire to provide Mrs. Early with the i'm
mediate necessities and comforts Of life,
which were provided, but with a thought
for possible rainy day. perhaps in the
near future, when the exigencies of the
case might make heavier drains upon
with this end in view the fund was
placed in the hands of a committee of
three. Mrs. Early was given to under
stand that she could draw upon it when
ever she liked and In such amounts as
she needed. without restriction. exceDt
that the committee felt that both the
interests Of the family, who came to the
District In practically destitute condf-
ton. and the interests OF the contributors
from all walks of life, who cheerfully
f ins' to their aid required an account
Leper Says Money Came Hard.
In a statement to the press Early de-
clares that after the money was collected
his wife was never notified, and that it
was only after she had been told by some
friends Of what had been done for her
that she went to the committee and asked
for some money.
Only after great difficulty, he AYERS. she
obtained some of the money contributed,
and then she was compelled to render an
itemized account of how the money was
to be used.
The last time she applied. he says. was
after three weeks of suffering of the
worst kind. She did not have a stove
In the house and she lacked the neces-
saries of life
II do not think she has been treated
right" he concluded. 1.-THE fact that the
money was raised for her did not sepcifv
that 1t was only after much pleading a.,
weeping that she should get It,
my wife Is not of a spendthrift nature
II money was given by the people for
her benefit there is no reason why she
should not be given the right to use it
when It Is needed
Mrs. Early Is now receiving $40 month
pension for the condition of her husband
who was a soldier of the army The hus-
band II is stated. will shortly be removed
from the tent where he Is residing at
present to house where he may spend
the winter.
P0STPONES THE TRIAL.
Oregon Court Acts In the Case of
Binger Hermann.
PORTLAND. Ore, October o3-The trial
Of former Representative Binger Hermann.
indicted in connection with the Ora0on