The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-09-18
With One Hand He Begged for
Charity Contributions
And With the Other He Made
Deposits in Bank.
TOPEKA TOOK CARE OF FAMILY
First They Appeared at One
Church, Then Another.
Carefully Instructed Children
Wept for Congregations.

His name is osaba otisho. and hs
has large, sad Syrian eyes and a
tongue that could vile any known
variety of bird off any known species
of shrubbery. He speaks several Ian
guages. ~
He is also a Swedish preacher of
the Swedish Bethel denomination. At
least he was when he spoke before the
Rev. A. Liljengren's congregation last
June-for the collection.
However, when he met the Rev.
A. J. Ross his faith had changed to
that of the German Methodist. He
told the sorrow of Armenia to the
congregation there with tears in eyes
and voice and collected. The Rev.
Ross gave him money and offered him
a light suit for the summer weather.
He accepted the first but declined the
latter, saying that charity stirred
more easily when he was attired in his
clericals. The Rev. Ross became sus-
picious and Otisho left town.
He left his wife and three children
who then had their innings. The next
Sunday morning Mrs. Otisho appeared
before Grace cathedral and told the
incoming congregation a tale of woe
and desertion. And her carefully in
structed family wept. Many of the
congregation responded in cash.
Canon Geisel, who has had long ex-
perience with the willy Syr3ans in New
York settlement work was on the
scene He listened TO the tale of woe
and Incidentally his ear caught the
mothers hurried whisper in German
to her 7-year-old daughter mot to tell
the man anything"
Pending investigation the Provident
association agreed to pay her rent
which they have done for the greater
part of the summer.
Toured Others Parts
This morning a flood of letters ar
rived telling of OtiSho's operations in
other parts He has successfully tour
ed the small country churches in
oklahoma. North Dakota, Missouri
and New York
Charity never stepped more quickly
than to the relies of the unfortunate
Syrian minister of the Methodist, Bap-
tist, Swedish Bethel and a host of
other denominational affiliations. all
depending upon the locality. In each
state he left his wife and family. In
South Dakota the information that he
was sending substantial drafts to a
New York Syrian bank caused his hur-
ried departure. And the deserted
wife plea availed his wife nothing for
they traced MIN by telegram and made
him come and get her by threats of
prosecution
1t is known that he visited his wife
here in her charity-paid room two
weeks ago and II is believed that he is
now in Kansas. If anyone knows of
his whereabouts he would delight the
Provident association by sharing the
information.
They have a little bill for groceries
and rent against him.
The family is real Syrian family"
Rev. Geisel said today. I'm my New
York settlement we found case after
case where the Syrian families were
accepting charity with one hand and
making bank deposits with the other.
Then they would go back to the old
country and live like princes among
the peasants for the rest of their days.
They are the most accomplished beg
gars in the world. They are artists in
mendicancy.'