New Britain herald., 1916-01-20
Pla1DVlle News BECOMES APAUPER
 FROM HELPING POOR
Woman Who Gave Her All to the Needed May Go to Poorhouse
VETERANS WIDOW DESTITUTE

Mrs. James Lloyd Spent Money to
 Bring Happiness to Others-Alrn%~
 house Now Seemingly Her On'} Refuge-Miscellaneo Shower.
 Old and feeble, penniless and alone,
 her money used up in bringing sum-
 shine into the lives of those apparent
 ly less fortunate than herself and in
 assisting churches and religious soci~
 eties Mrs. Dorcas Lloyd, widow of
 James s. Lloyd, who fought in defense of the Union during the Civil War, i5 today making preparations to start th> journey on the road that leads lover
 the hills to the poorhouse,' and un-
 less steps are taken immediately to look after her, the woman will soon
 become an inmate of the Town Homo in New Britain, the selectmen having been advised that she is destitute and
 must be sent to some charitable insti- tuition.
 Her case is one of the most pa thetic that has been called to the at tention of the selectmen in long time and while Chairman Johnson dislikes to have her committed to the poor house, he said this morning that the circumstances seemingly permit Of no alternative. Mrs Lloyd, who is over eighty years of age, has reached a point where her purse is empty and the cupboard in her home practically bare, and unless assistance is rendered her few remaining years will be spent with the f1otsam and jetsam that has been tossed out of the sea of humanity finally finding a resting place in the l one harbor remaining open to them 1 the alnshouse.
 Mrs. Lloyd's husband, who was z, 1 important battles of which he took part in, died a few years ago leaving i his widow several thousand dollars. | During his life, Lloyd, who was honest and thrifty, made little nest egg, l with his wife's assistance, to keep the wolf from the door when old age crept upon them, and at his death his widow had an estate that would easily
 have kept her in comfort until her
 death, had it been properly man.
 aged.
 i Deeply religious and charitable to fault, Mrs. Lloyd was unable to see others suffer for lack of worldly goods, while she was in comfort her
 self and she frequently raided her lit tie treasury to help poor and needy. To the churches in which she was in terested and the philanthropic soci- cites she also contributed Hberal1v , and a few years ago, her relatives claiming that she was giving away her money without reason, applied to the probate court for the appointment ! of a conservator over her, fearing
 that she would eventually become dependent Mrs. Lloyd, who was bright and active at the time, made
 such an impression in court, how
 erer, when she appeared to oppose
 the application, was given decision i and she continued using her purse ill
 the cause of humanity.
 She had built small addition to
 the residence of I. B. Peck on For
 estville avenue on condition that she i would have the life use of the apart
 ments. She has since been living 1 there with attendant as she was 1 too old and feeble to take care of her self and, except perhaps for those who benefited by her benefactions she passed her time practically for gotten by the community.
 A few days ago the selectmen were 1 notified that her treasury was so de-
 pleted that it would take but about
 another week to make pauper of her. Investigation made by Select man Johnson revealed the fact that it cost from $10 to SIP a week to keep her. This includes an expense
 of about S6 week for woman to stay with the old lady and attend to her wants.
 The selectman communicated with
 two of her nephews but he has heard nothing from them and yesterday he
 conferred with the charity department in New Britain, making arrangements to have her cared for at the aims
 house in that city at s4.5O a week.
 While many veterans and the widows of hundreds of old soldiers, not by any means in want, are receiv- ing $25 or $3O and even more a month
 in pensions, Mrs. Lloyd, always inter-
 ested in the welfare of others rather than her own, draws a niggardly $3 a week from the government for whose preservation her husband many times
 rislxed his life. Besides fighting in
 several important engagements Lloyd had languished for weeks with other Union soldiers in Andersonville prison, 1 finally making his escape by tunnelling his way out, using his hands to scoop away the dirt.
 Many less deserving than she are helped by people and charitable or l ganizations, and local citizens who 1 heard of her destitute condition this
 morning expressed strong opposition
 to any plan for sending her to the l Town home. They argued that the l Strong fund commissioners, individ- l uals or the town itself should not per-
 init her incarceration in such an insti-
 tuition as she hears the end of so use- | full a life, using economy as an excuse,
 and some action should be taken to | nr0Uinn n01jfIo91 1 leaders, who require no coaxing to 1 appeal to representatives in congress l to aid those who might bring them 1 votes or add to their prestige. can be