Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-12-25
STRICKEN FAMILY
NOW HAS PLENTY
Widow of Accident Victim
Made Comfortable by
Contributions.

One year ago today Mrs Lewis r.
Leapley woke up and looked around
her at the most hopeless Christmas
imaginable. Two days before her
husband had been killed, her home
was not paid for, she had no money,
and there were seven children with.
out enough to eat and another was
coming. Today she owns q com.
Portable home, has an income that IS
sufficient for her modest needs. and
the eight children are we'll and happy.
The story of Mrs. Leapley is a story
for Christmas.
Early in the morning of December
%, 1926. truck of the Auth Provision
co. and Yellow taXicab crashed into
each other and the truck was over
turned. Out from under a pile of
heavily laden boxes crawled the driver
Of the truck, Lewis II. Leapley.
Slowly he walked half a block to the
office Of a dairy, told the foreman.
Go tell my wife to pay my insurance
ut once" walked back to his truck
and there died.
Future Seems Black.
Over the body Of her husband Mrs.
Leapley fell in a faint. His warning
had come too late. For two days she
sat and looked into a future that
seemed to hold no hope. There was
no money, the home at 70S G. street
southeast had not been paid for, and
only one of the seven children. Edna
who was is, was working For the
rest. there was not enough to eat.
She would not be able to work for
months.
Then on Christmas day, The Star
published the story of Mrs. Leapley's
plight and asked for contributions to
help her. The first contribution was
SIS, and 1t came from Frank V. A.
Brown of the Auth company. BY leaps
and bounds the fund grew until sew.
eral thousand dollars had been re-
ceived for the widow. Others came
to her assistance. and her condition
today shows how well the work was
done
The little house at 70s G street
southeast is paid for. and has been
renovated. The eight children are
comfortable and happy. and the hap
pest is Francis Newbold Leapley.
born four months after his fathers
death. Contributions through The
Star made this possible.
Get Monthly Income.
Current expenses are paid with an
income of $50 a month, which liz being
contributed by the Yellow Taxi Co,
until s. 900 has been given. The Auth
company gives Mrs Leapley all the
meat products she needs, the Walker
Hin Dairy supplies her with milk. and
the Holmes company with bread.
Though living modestly. the family Is
we'll provided for. and the future in
bright. because the children are grow
ing up. Before Ions several of them
will be at work and. after that, help
will not be needed
And the first person to help will not
he the first to forget. From Frank
V. A. Brown came letter yesterday
to The Star saying:
Il could not let this day pass with
out letting YOU know how the little
widow and the eight children are do.
ing No doubt but for the eff
forts OF The Evening Star this little
widow and her eight children would
he one of the unfortunates Won are
now helping in the Il opportunities.
| do hope YOU will succeed In
getting the opportunities filled YOU are
asking for, and TO help along little.
am sending through The Evening Star
$2A for the Il left. :"
All OF which goes 10 show that
Christmas Is Christmas after all.