The weekly tribune and the Cape County herald. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1914-1918, 1917-07-19
w. III. Stubblefield Declined
To Bring Assistance To
Destitutes.
GOOD CITIZENS BUILD
HOME FOR WIDOW
Son, ID, Only Wage Garner In
Family Of Nine-Mayor Hirsch
Aids Family.


ISOLATION, William H. Stubblefeld, re-
fused to assist destitute widow with
eight small children because of an old
dispute, was learned by The Tribune
yesterday, and the mother has been
depending upon the charitable spirit of
several liberal citizens and the en-
polyer of the oldest boy of the family.
The widow is Mrs. Mary Kennedy,
who was elected from the Adams
house on Jefferson street several
months ago because of her failure to
pay the rent. She has since been liv-
ing in small frame house in the
Red Star Addition erected for her by
several citizens of the city, who came
to her assistance and made her con-
dition as comfortable as possible.
Mrs. Kennedy has eight children, the
oldest being boy about ID years old,
the two youngest are twins, less than
one-half year of age. The eldest boy
has been employed by the Freeze
Threshing Machine Co. for several
months, but owing to his delicate con-
stitution, brought on by deprivation,
the lad has not been able to earn
enough money to pay for his own sup
port.
When Mrs. Kennedy, who came here
from Tennessee shortly after the death
of her husband last winter, was forced
to leave her home in the Adams, house,
she was left without any money or
any place to stay. Mayor Hirsch was
asked to appropriate some money from
the city funds for the woman's sup
port, but in the absence of such a fund
the Mayor contributed from his per-
sonal funds to the upkeep of the desti-
tute family and asked for more dona-
lions among his acquaintance.
Several wealthy men were approach
ed by Mayor Hirsch, and a cottage
was built in the Red Star Addition for
the penniless woman. She soon be-
came able to earn a little money for
her family by taking in washing, but
her feeble condition forced her to
abandon the work shortly afterward.
In addition, her oldest son lost his po-
sition in the shoe factory, being too
weak to do the work his duties re-
quired, and the family soon fell back
into the old conditions.
| The Provident Association was ask
ed to take care of the family when
their plight became known again. Mrs.
Kennedy had concealed her troubles
from her benefactors the second time,
and it was due to visit of the en-
ployer of the eldest boy of the family,
that the conditions became known
The boy in the meantime had obtained
a position in the factory of the Freeze
| Threshing Machine Co.
Stubblefeld, the president of the
| Provident Association, visited the
house and rebuked Mrs. Kennedy for
not keeping the home in cleaner condi-
tion than was found. She explained
to the visitor that she could hardly
care for her little children, all being
small and unable to care for them
selves, and for that reason she could
not keep her home as clean as could
be expected.
During the past few weeks Mrs
KENNEDY has been supported by the
charity of some of the citizens. Sew
eral officials of the Freeze Threshing
Machine Co., among them Mr.. Deeds,
the manager, have purchased groceries
and other necessaries for the family.
Aside from that, many others have
contributed to the collection for the
stricken family. Mayor Hirsch and
others have supplied the family with
groceries whenever needed, and every
thing is being done to relieve them of
any cares without the aid of Stubble-
field.