The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1916-12-20
TRIPLE INQUIRY
IN TRAGIC DEATH
OF MRS. M0R0T0
Coroner, Medical Examiner
and Board of Charities
Probe Pitiable Case.

Following the death of Mrs. Philip
Moroto. IT years Of age, which is sup
posed to have resulted from hunger
and exposure, and the threatened fatal
condition of her three months old in
FAINT and husband, as a. result of the
same causes, triple investigation of
the case has been started by the board
of charities, Medical Examiner S. M.
Garlick and Coroner John J. Phelan.
The family removed yesterday
morning from the basement Of the
house at~226 North Washington ave-
nue. to st. 'Vincent's hospital. The
mother died shortly after her arrival
and the condition Of the father and
baby is critical. No one has thus far
claimed the body Of the woman, al
though it was reported this afternoon
that two sisters might claim her.
: But the little mother, whose exotic
beauty earned for her two years ago
the sobriauet of the Belle of italy"
has not died in vain. The conditions
which caused her death, and may re-
suit in the taking Of the lives of her
consumptive husband and unnursed
babe Of three months, will never again
prevail for the two surviving members
of the family should, they recover.
Today the board of charities, at the.
direction of Supt. S. R. Gordon, has
sent attaches of his office to investi-
gate the case. They have promised to
send the baby to the Fresh Air
Farm" if it fingers, and if the, hus-
band is cured of, pneumonia he may
be admitted to the stAte tuberculosis
institution. (
The publicity of the farnily's fatal
destitution has aroused in generous
members of their race, an earnest de-
sire to assist them. They may raise
a fund to help the father and infant
and rescue the unclaimed body of the
mother-which lies at ST. Vincent s
Notwithstanding to it a Christian
burial.
Miss Josephine Lillis and Alexander
F. Morrissey. of the charities depart
ment, today visited the single room
in the basement of the house at 226
North Washington avenue, which the
family called home In keeping
with official procedure governing such
cases, they interviewed neighbors and
DR.. Francis Carroll went to St. Vim
cents hospital to take a culture and
determine if Moroto has consump-
ton.
Indignant citizens Kept the phones
at the charities department busy all
morning, making inquiries as to the
condition of the father and baby,
stating their willingness to help them,
and expressing great surprise that a
family should be allowed to live and
die in such hunger and squalor, in a
civilized, prosperous community.
Supt. Gordon, whose office of late
has been subjected to more or less
criticism and who was recently advis-
ed to stop spending his time writing
books, and keep investigators of his
department on the street, instead of
having them assume his duties, stated
to all citizens that the department
had no knowledge of the case, until
it was published in the newspapers.
The matter had never been report
ed to the department., he said, and
he would have taken immediate ac-
ton had the case been called to his
attention.
It was stated that members of the
Latin race. possess a deeply ingrained
love of home and an all-absorbing
love of family. They fear that when
authorities learn they are Ill or in
want they will be parted from their
family and are always loath to apply
for aid in time of sickness or distress
The father, Philip Moroto. who is
ignorant of the fact that his young
wife is Dead is reported as having a,
chance to recover from the effects
of pneumonia brought on by expos
ure, and the emaciated infant has a
fighting chance for life.
This afternoon it was learned that
following a report, he will receive
from Medical Examiner Garlick, corr
cerning the death of Mrs. Moroto,
Coroner John J. Phelan will conduct
an investigation. DIR. Garlick stated
that the family had only recently
moved into the home from which
they we're taken to st. Vincent's hos
pit,l.
He gives as his opinion the cause
Of the death of Mrs. Moroto was gar
poisoning, and the eating of old ant
stale food. The doctor found that
they had eaten Monday night. sup
per Of stale~cod fish, and a cheap
grade Of Italian wine.
This poisoned them and they went
to bed after building a fire in the lit
tie stove in the room of charcoal, on
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