The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-02-14
LIVED IN FILTH.
Mrs. G. V. Zehring Couldn't Find
Way Home.
Hunting for Fuel to Warm Her
House.
LIVING In WANT.
Had Money in House But Had
Forgotten.
House Within Sight of Provi-
dent Association.

Scantily clad and shivering as a re-
suit of long tramp In the chill morn
ing air Mrs. C. v. ZehEing was today
found on the street mentally deranged.
She could not remember where she
lived, thought her daughter who is in
the pest house with smallpox was in
Fort Scott and declared she had lost
her way. She was taken into the home
of Clarence Peyton, 428 Quincy street,
and the police were notified. Later she
was taken to her rooms at 116 East
Fourth street, where two grandchildren
who were left alseep, were found cry
ing pitifully for their grandmother.
According to Mrs. Zehring there was
no fuel in the house and she lost her
reason, temporarily, while searching
the streets for material with which to
make a fire and have a warm room for
her grandchildren when they awoke.
She does not know what part of town
she visited, but when found by Mrs.
Peyton she had half a dozen bits of
board in her arms and was trying TO
find her way home. She did not, at
that time remember where she lived.
Mrs. Zehring was formerly medium.
She is the widow of c. V. Zehring.
lecturer, we'll known to followers of the
spiritualistic belief in Kansas. She de-
clared she had been trying for four
days to get some one to bring her fuel
and said the coal dealers had told her
they had no one they could send with
her coal.
Although the woman declared she
was without money, and appearances
indicate that she believed such to be
the case, a search revealed pocket
book in which there was $14. 1t had
been placed on the top of cupboard
and forgotten by the old lady.
At the rooms a state of filth and
squalor was found which it is difficult
to believe exists in a city like Topeka.
The accumulation of dirt must have be-
gun last fall when the behring's moved
to their present location. Two bright
eyed little girls whose faces probably
had not known the touch Of water for
days, were waiting for her. An attempt
to describe the condition found at the
rooms would be useless. 1t would not
be believed unless seen.
It is reported that prior to her sick
ness Eva Evans, the daughter, quar-
relied with her mother. That old lady,
however, would not admit that such
was the case. Mrs. Zehring told proud
ly of places where her daughter worked,
and at which the daughter did not
work, and said that she was in Fort
Scott and dangerously i'll, and gave the
impression that Eva, as she called her,
had gone to visit relatives and was
taken i'll while away from home. AS q
matter of fact the woman was taken
with smallpox at the rooms on East
Fourth street, and the only wonder IS
that a disease more dread than small
pox did not break out as a result OF the
lllIu III WHICH lIlC ldlllI1y live.
After the discovery of conditions at
the Zehring home the case was re-
ported to the Provident association.
The office of the organized charities
headquarters is within block and
half of the Zehring rooms. 1t was
stated there that when the visiting
nurse arrived she would be sent to
inspect the case and if she reported
the people in need there would some
action be taken. Meanwhile there
rryfr, 10xr
pane broken out of the front of the
building let in a draft of cold air
which found its way out of door
into the hall which could not be
closed. Shortly before IL O'Clock, the
visiting nurse went to the rooms, but
beyond Investigating the case did
nothing at that time to better condi-
tons 1t is to be hoped that some
Recommendation was made as to
washing the children and sweeping
and scrubbing the floors, windows and
walls. and the burning or destroying
of the filth that has accumulated.
AT the police station several sacks
of coal which have been left there
| from time to time were found and
these were hauled to the Zehring
rooms. Two roaring fires were built
| by the police in order that the poor
old woman and her two grandchildren
might be comfortable until the rec
concentrations of the visiting nurse
were known and acted upon.
! An effort will be made to send Mrs.
Zehring to the county farm. Other
wise it will be necessary to have some
one with her constantly. She cannot
| care for herself. let alone her grand
children AS it is alleged that the
mother is unfit for the custody of the
children, an attempt will be made
| to have them taken from her and
placed in homes through the Orphans
| home or some children's society.
|