The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-04-21
FIREMAN'S MOTHER,
NOW 80, PENSI0NED
Mrs. Hopkins, Whose Son Died
Of Injuries at Fire, Is
Provided For.
SHARES NEUSTADT FUND
Manner Acts Quickly After
Reading Story Of Old
WOman's Need.

Mrs. Margaret Hopkins. so years old
mother of fireman who died In 1887
from injuries received while serving the
city. was made happy yesterday when
she was informed that she would receive
a pension Of 5000 year from the Sig
mund Neustadt Memorial Fund as a rec
ognition of the work her son performed.
The news came at an opportune mo-
inent for the aged woman is In need of
the money Mayor Mitchell had vetoed al,
act which would have enabled the Fire
Commissioner to pension the woman. The
Mayor was compelled To 10 this because
the law pensioning dependent mothers was
passed two years after the death of
Thomas a. Hopkins. the old womans son,
the payment of money in a case similar
to that OF Mrs. Hopkins was a diversion
OF the city's money to private use.
Mrs Hopkins. who lives at $50 Eagle
avenue. The Bronx. was in need because
her daughter who had contributed to her
support. recently became an invalid.
Facts After Reading 1.-THE sun"
The quick work of the committee in
providing a pension for Mrs. Hopkins
from the Neustadt Memorial fund was
due to Robert ". Manner. a member Of
Hallgarten Co. who is secretary and
treasurer OF the fund. He read In THE
Sun on Sunday the news Of Mayor
Mitchers veto and Immediately started an
investigation that convinced him of the
worthiness OF the case.
II am indeed grateful to THE Sun for
its story explaining the whole situation"
said Mr.. Manner yesterday. II imms-
diately called UP Fire Commissioners
Adamson. who Is a trustee of the fund.
and got in touch with Fire Chief Kenlon.
also a trustee, and Joseph j. O'Reiliy,
another trustee We looked into the case
and held a meeting on sunday. voting to
give the woman "A pension for the re-
maindcr of her life. I first heard OF the
case at noon and by o'clock on Sunday
evening We had everything settled
II wrote a letter to the Mayor to-day
informing him of tho decision OF tho trus-
tees ard saying that the pension would
be paid to Mrs, Hopkins in monthly in
stalments OF So each.
Makes Quick Action Possible.
established in 1911 by my aunt, Mrs.
Agnes Neustadt Of IL East sixty ninth
street, is that il enables US TO act
promptly and relieve distress among per-
sons dependent on firemen who have been
disa bled.
THE agreement under which Mrs.
Neustadt gave the money is broad and
vded that injured. disabled. aged or in
Arm members OF the Fire Department may
receive aid from the fund: that money
may be used for the relief OF those par
ents, brothers. sisters. widows or children
of deceased members of the Fire Depart
ment who have been dependent on said
members for their support and are in
need of financial aid.
I'VE have cases coming under our
notice all the tim. and We are only too
happy TO help members of the Fire De-
partment or persons dependent on them
when in need"
Mrs Neustadt save s25. 900 in bonds TO
start the fund.
The news Of tho pension was taken "a
Mrs. Hopkins last night by a reporter for
THE Sun. Up to that hour a latter writ
ten by Mr.. Manner had not reached tho
aged woman.
Mrs Hopkins who is almost blind and
exceedingly feeble. expressed her gratitude
1T is good news she said and thank
God for it
Her daughter Margaret explained that
when her brother died years ago there
was no thought of pension. because the
family was well To do. There were nine
children. but now there remain only one
daughter and one son. The son Is pos
lceman and is married.