The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1921-11-25
Property Owner Claims Family
Owes Rent for Two
Months.

The John Hansford Purks-Mr.
| and Mrs. and the six children. rang
, ing from the thirteen-year- girl
down to the two-year-old babe
changed their residence today from
| the sidewalk in front of 334S NJ street
| northwest to 1913 Thirty-fourth
| street. Upon locating new shelter
hopes arose that their present trail
of trouble has led to new pasture
where the thistles of everyday life
are thornless.
The spisodes which have bumped
into the family during the past few
days have been numerous and plenti-
ful-too plentiful for little Mrs.
Purks, who says she hasn't had any
sleep for the past two nights.
Enters, the Law.
Mrs. Purks and the brood were
parked in the M street flat, owned
and rented by the Robert A. Phillips
estate through Robert ii. Phillips and
the American Security and Trust
Company as co-trustees. Tuesday
deputy United States marshal escort
ed the much battered family equip
ment to the sidewalk because the rent
of $35 had not been paid. While Mrs.
Purks and the kids were endeavoring
to cheer up on Thanksgiving, their
mattresses lay sodden in the rain.
Phillips story Of the presence of
the furniture on the sidewalk begins
back in September, when he claims
Mrs. Purks came tc him, endeavor-
ing to rent the vacant fiat at 334S
M street. He said he informed her
he could not permit occupancy with
out reference. The next day
brother of Mrs. Purks, according to
Phillips, went to the American
Security offices and paid IS on rental
for the flat. Phillips said the receipt
contained the added condition that
the receipt was not valid until the
tenants had been approved by him.
The night the receipt was issued,
Phillips said, the Purks took posses
sion of the NJ street property, NOV
ing in their furniture. He says they
entered the property forcibly. Purks
told The Times this morning that the
place had not been locked and that
he understood the receipt permitted
his entrance.
Purks Is Jailed.
Phillips had warrants served on
Mr.. and Mrs. Purks. He said the
warrants We're issued at the sugges-
ton of District Attorney Peyton
Gordon. Purks was sent to Jail for
eight days awaiting trial. At the
trial the court ruled that the Purks,
though moving their furniture into
the flat. had not taken the actual
physical possession by force, for
which the law provides a punish
ment.
Mrs. Purks told The Times today
she had endeavored through her at
torney, f.. M. Kintz, Albee Building,
to pay the rent due Phillips several
Al. H. haI la L.
u. s. Marshal Tuesday asking that
the furniture removal be delayed
until money, then forthcoming. could
be applied to the rent. The marshal,
he said refused. Phillips denied the
rent money had ever been offered.
and said that about s35 was still
due, regardless the fact that the
furniture had not been moved until
November %, one day over the rental
period, which would made an addi-
tional mouths payment due.
Timely Rescue.
An earlier misfortune to the family
provided an escape from the press
ing difficulty this morning. The eldest
child was injured several years ago,
and interest on the damages recov-
cred was today obtained and applied
to the rental Of another house.
THE children slept on a mattress
on the floor last night" said Mrs.
Purks this morning. 81 haven't had
any sleep for the past two nights.
1t certainly was a gloomy Thanks
giving for us. Our mattresses were
out in that rain yesterday. They
won't be fit for use for sometime"
Purks said he was suffering from
rheumatism, that he had not been
able to do heavy work because of in
juries he said he received in a
trolley accident near Riverdale some
time ago. He has been recently
emnlnYed as q hacker