The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1924-02-07
CALLED CHICKEN
COOP HIS HOME
Police Break Up the Hap
py Home of jim
JespersOn.
DIRT UP TO THE EAVES
Only a Kerosene Lamp Warm
ed the Miserable Quar-
tiers of This Man.

Dobbin's home in the stable as pro-
vided for him by his master, Joe Saw
aglio, was a palace compared to the
wretched howell in which the police on
Tuesday evening found Jim Jesperson
living. Formerly a chicken coop, and
in the rear of 1865 Prairie avenue, the
eight by-ten "room" in which the man
was found warming his hands over
miserable kerosene lamp, indicated
degradation of body and spirit which is
we'll nigh past belief.
Jesperson is 48 years old, single, and
earns his drinks, the only thing he has
had to live for, by mooching from low
saloon to low saloon as humble por-
ter The police tore him loose from
his moorings, imposed the penalty of
bath and sentenced him to a future
containing soap, a clean bed, three
meals day and no drinks. They were
assisted in the kindly work by Jacob
Saftig, director Of outdoor relief.
Wonder How He Survived.
How the man managed to survive
with bis little lamp and can Of snuff
through the inelement weather Of the
past is considered a miracle.
The first report of the case came
from woman. She reported to the
police that she had looked through an
aperture in a shed in the rear of 1865
Prairie avenue, after some children had
called her attention to the place, and
seen man warming his hands at a
lamp. She called her husband and to-
gether they approached the place and
tried to talk to the man within. He
did not answer them and continued in
stupefed fashion to warm his hands at
the sides of the little lamp.
II think something should be done
about it," said the woman to the police.
Its awful"
Secretary Meissner and officers Mel
busch and Long investigated the case
Tuesday afternoon and after one look
at the wretched hovel, they agreed that
lawful" was the word.
Had Been a Chicken Coop.
They had ample time to look about
for the humble occupant was not at
home when they called. The shed had
formerly been a chicken coop and evil
dence of the former tenants by way of
feathers and offal was plentiful.
There were no windows. Instead,
there were two holes hung with burlap,
through which the wind and snow en-
tered as it listed For furnishings,
there was bed and lamp. The bed
was a hospital cot containing a mat
tress, but the only bedding" was a few
gunny sacks and a few rags of old
clothes The lamp and single oil
burner furnished all the heat the mis-
cradle tenant had. The complete filth
of the place is indescribable. After
the first glance about the three officers
backed out, in great haste treading on
one another's toes in an anxiety to
breathe the sweet snow-laden air out
side.
Box of Snuff There.
There was no evidence Of any tools
such as are used by even the humblest
humans for cleansing purposes. There
was no hint of a washbasin or silver
of soap at all. There was, however, a
box of snuff on the table. Newspapers
were used to cover the dirt when it
grew too clumsy and successive layers
of cardboard and newspapers were
bound on the floor.
The police trio, unable to locate the
tenant of this extraordinary dwelling
departed, brushing off their garments
carefully as they went.
Tell the Ghost Squad.
They left word with Capt. Clausen in
charge of the night police, limiting that
they thought the work was one suit
able to the ghost squad. The ghost
squad consisting for the nonce of De-
tective McCluskey, Officers Harold
Rock and O'Hare, made their devious
way through the snow at 1880 o'clock
and came upon Jesperson "at home"
He was taken down to the police sta
ton for the night. This morning the
"scrubbing up process took place
Turnkey Long turned on the showers
and supplied scrubbing brush, while
Jacob Saftig brought new underwear,
suit of clothes and an overcoat.
Today Jesperson will be taken to the
county farm to be taught the ways Of
decent living once more, which under
the influence Of moonshine drink and
its accompanying degradation he had