The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1916-12-14
.PITIFUL DESTlTGIIOA.
HEART BENDING CASE BROUGHT
INTO COURT.

|
That absolute restitution coul,
exist anywhere in this beautiful stat,
of Iowa and more especially in tn,
very heart of Proud Mahaska" is al
| almost unbelievable statement. Bu
nevertheless very true one.-as wa.
brought to light in the district cour
room before Judge Willcoekson las
week. The good people of Fremon
reported a case of poverty and wan
to the authorities some time last
summer, and relief was given at the
time, The family is that of the Mr.
Mckinney who was burned to death
in the Fremont Jail early last spring
They have resided since that time g
few miles out of Fremont up in the
clay hills away from all other civil
cation in a little two room hut
There was no floor in one room and
only one window in the other. The
mother, the two children and the
Grandmother lived here, and the au
thorities last summer made a trip to
the place, taking clothing, bedding
and food and gave the mother in
structions that she must keep the
children clean or they would be TAX,
en- from her.
One of the children, Edith, who is
eight years of age, has attended
school for a short time. She had to
walk over two miles, and her dinner
bucket never had more than one
piece of bread and an apple in it for
her lunch. Her clothes were ragged
and naturally enough she did not
learn as readily as other children.
The other child, Lenzie, little boy
aged two and a half years, was in a
pitiable condition. His hair was I'M
combed and the rest of his body
showed lack of attention. The fam
lily was reported to the authorities
again Q week or so ago and although
they had been allowed the limit, $3.50
per week, by the county since last
summer; they We're suffering. The
children and their mother were
brought to Oskaloosa, and taken to
the county Jail, where they were kept
until taken before the court. Through
the generosity and kind heartedness
of the county sheriff's wife, Mrs. Ed
Henley, the children were bathed and
cleaned up as well as they could be
with two or three days work Mrs.
Henley took the little folks right into
her own home, gave them the best of
care and showed them what a moth
ers love should be. 1t is pitiful to
see the look of gratitude which they
give her for her kindnesses.
Taken before the district court,
Judge Willcockson ordered them sent
to the Orphans Home in Ottumwa,
but when the representative from
that place arrived, she rejected the
children, saying that they We're not
bright They have been at this
home before for a period of one week
and because they actually did not
know what things were, they were
sent back. Edith, eight years old,
does not know what the kitchen" is.
She calls the dining room table the
dresser" She does not understand
that soap is for the body hands and
face; having been told that it is to
wash clothes with and not for the
hands, face and body. The children
have never in their lives been un
dressed and put to bed. They slept
with their clothes on. Tears came
to the eyes of the judge when he was
told the conditions under which these
children have lived. Tears also
came to the eyes of every one in the
court room at the time the hearing
was on.
Communications from the Judge
regarding their disposal are being
looked for on each mail, since the OF
tumwa Home refused to take them
Judge Willcockson desires to place
them some place where he may
watch them for some day these same
little folks will come in for theil
share of big estate in Mahaske
county. The mother was returned
to Fremont, and until further orders
from Judge Willcockson, Mrs. Henley
has opened her heart and her homo
to these two little friendless children