Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1912-03-29
TOTS FOUND
in SQUALOR
Grandmother, 1t Is Said,
Kept Them and House
in Filthy Condition.

Two policemen, physician and
chauffeur were compelled to use all
their strength and much strategy be-
fore Mrs. Jennie Derretzo, 75 years old.
of 1856 Boyd street, four feet six inches
tall. could be taken to the City Hos
pital and 1t was only when the police
took action following the dismissal of
her three grandchildren from the
Eighteenth Avenue School that it was
decided she must be taken from the
four rear rooms she occupied with the
children and their father.
Jared W. Kimball, of the Children's
Aid Society, has made complaint of
neglect against the father and will
care for the children.
For the past three years Mr.. Kimball
has repeatedly warned the father that
he must provide better home for his
children and his mother. No attention
was paid to the warnings. Principal
Erwin Manness, of the Eighteenth
Avenue School, on many occasions was
compelled TO send the children home on
account of their unkempt condition. He
finally notified the Board of Health.
Arrangements were made to care for
the tots, whose mother is dead, at the
Children's Aid Home, 249 Mulberry
street, and for the removal of the aged
grandmother to the City Hospital
When the ambulance called she refused
to go, and the physician sent to the
Fourth precinct for assistance. Patrol
men Miller and Harrenburg, six
footers, were sent.
Repeated knocking at the door failed
to bring a response, and, fearing that
she might injure herself. the door was
broken down. The four men found the
kitchen empty and the door leading to
the bedroom locked. The door was
forced. The woman stood near the bed
with hatchet, defying them to come
near her. One of the policemen made
an attempt, but retreated when she
swung the axe.
Attempts to persuade the woman to
accompany them were futile. 1t was
decided that force would have to be
used. Advancing toward her with a
broom, SO as to keep the hatchet from
doing damage, the woman was carried
struggling to the ambulance Her fin
ger nails which were almost an inch
long, were constant source of menace.
In the ambulance she shrieked and at
tracted a crowd. At the hospital the
woman, still in fighting mood, made
| 1t unpleasant for all. She requires a
constant guard.
| The three children, Dominick, 10 years
old; Annie, 5 years old, and Charles. 6
years old are the children of Charles
Derretzo, by his first wife.
When the children were sent home a
few days ago action was taken which
| resulted in complaint being made
against the father -Four years ago a
complaint was made against the father,
but he was allowed to go on his prom
| Use to attend to the needs of the family.
The second wife of the man, the police
say. ran away from her husband, TAX
| ing the oldest girl, who is now about
IA years old. A boarder disappeared
at the same time.
Principal Manness said that he had
done what he could to get the father
to care for his children. Last week,
the principal said, the father came to
him and asked if it would not be pos
sible for him to keep the children
home. This, the principal told him, was
| impossible.
Superintendent Kimball says that the
children received all the foodstuffs they
required, but that the home conditions
were the worst he ever saw.
The children said that their father
always provided well for them and
gave their grandmother sufficient
money for their support. Since being
at the home the children have been
given clothing and washed. They say
, they love their father, but that their
grandmother always left the work un-
done.