The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1920-08-05


daughter Of Nick Vamosh living In
the town of Eileen, ard Rosie Yam.
osh 13 years old, were witnesses to
case of extreme cruelty when they
took the stand in Judge Axelberg's
court July 81, against their father
who was charged with improper par
entail guardianship, the hearing being
conducted by District Attorney c. r
Morris.
The father, Nick Vamosh, is an
Austrian whose wife was killed by
lightning while shocking grain in
field, year ago this month. She left
a family of seven children, the Oldest
being Margaret, 10, and the youngest
only a few months old.
Margaret took charge of the FAM
ily and the house until she was taken
sick last March, confined to her bed
and unable to work any longer. 1t
was six weeks before her illness was
discovered by kind neighbors WHO
Immediately informed the dounty
nurse, Anna M. Thompson. She
found the girl in terrible condition,
unbathed, uncombed, emaciated and
unable to move herself in bed and in
such pain that nc one could touch
her. She had no medical treatment
and Miss Thompson, Immediately
went to the father informing him that
she must be moved to a hospital,
which he did under protest. 1t was
found that she was suffering from in
fiamatory rheumatism with ser
ious heart complication and that her
chances for recovery were small.
Her father allowed her to remain
at the hospital six weeks when he
finally took her home without the
knowledge of the nurse, whose direct
ions, said Miss Thompson, in regard
,tcscare and diet were disregarded.A
Miss Thompson found her some
what better, at later visit, but q
physical wreck from neglect.
Since Margaret's illness, the bur-
den fell upon Rosie, a child of 13
years, who, besides doing washing,
baking and cooking, was required
to help milk, work in the garden end
pitch hay in the fiend and in the barn.
"Rosie had the most tragic look
in her eyes that ] have ever seen in
any human being, let alone those of a
child" said Miss Thompson. In
view of these facts petitioned for a
hearing in the juvenile court on the
grounds of improper parental guar
dianship. ! brought in the sick girl
as one of the witnesses and just one
look at her was evidence in itself. On
being questioned Mr.. Vamosh cody
informed the court that he was free
from debt on his 80 acre farm and
he wound die before he would place
a mortgage on the place to obtain
money. When asked if he would also
let all of his children die rather than
put a hundred dollar mortgage on his
farm he shrugged his shoulders and
answered "God knows"
'The living conditions at the Vam-
osh home are wretched," Miss Thomp-
son repeated. The entire family
consisting of the father and seven
children, sleep in one small room.
These facts seem to show that some
conditions in our midst need looking
into and that there is much need Of
intensive child welfare work and need
of education along that line so that
children, no mater what nationality,
will nave chance to grow and de-
velop into strong, healthy, fit citi-
zens, and not exist just for the sake
of the dollar they can earn and save
at tn expense of other things. Not
that children should not work-they
shouldn't not slave, and they surely
are entitled to far show"
-. Ashland Press