The Indianapolis times., 1932-01-06
BY JOHN T. MOUTOUX
Times stan Correspondent


FRANKFORT, KY, Jan. 6.-Fol
twelve years Mr.. and Mrs. Harry
Appleman have been operating &
general merchandising store at the
little town of Evarts in Harlan
county.
1t was to Evarts that coal miners
fiocked and took their families las
spring when they we're fired fol
joining the union. Their only source
Of income suddenly cut off, the
miners lived on the little that aie
committees would bring in from adj
joining counties.
Testifying before former Gov
ernor Flem Simpsons commission
Investigating Harlan county condi-
tions, was Mrs. Harry Appleman
38-year-old mother of four children
She was born in Poland, came to
America when a child, was educated
in Virginia, and later naturalized.
did you and your husband dis
tribute a carload of flour here?'
she was asked by one of the COM
missioners.
Advertised Free Flour
Ave did.
Q-Will you file this circular and
make it part of yoll deposition?
The circular read:
LOOK
TN accordance with the jew
ish custom to remember the needy
during the Passover Season, Mr..
and Mrs. Harry Appleman will
give away on Friday, April II, at
the Evarts depot car load of
flour.
"The flour will be given away as
long as 1t lasts, a 24-pound bag
to a family. All needy from
Evarts and surroundings are well
come regardless of creed and
color"
Q-Who paid for the flour?
Al did. 1 had saved the money
to buy machine. The people were
suffering, so I thought I would do
without the car and give the people
the flour. Dozens of children would
come to my store begging. said,
Il have never had a car and will
not miss it," and bought the flour.
Q-Mrs. Appleman, 1 understand
from other sources that before you
distributed this flour, you did con-
siderable charity work, providing
the children with food and clothing.
Fed School Children
Ayes sir, in order to keep them
in school. Professor Roberts came
to us and told us that number
of children were absent because
they do not get sufficient food.
Q-How many children did you
feed?
A-Sometimes as many as forty,
forty-fve and fifty; on rainy days
twenty and twenty-five.
Q-This commission understands
that as soon as the carload of flour
was distributed, your husband was
arrested and indicted for criminal
syndicalism.
A-They had a warrant out for
him. Every day sheriffs passed our
way and inquired about my hus-
band. I had to stay here myself;
Mr.. Appleman could not come home
or he would be arrested.
Q-You we're not bothered until
you distributed the flour?
A-No.
Q-What became of the indict-
ment?
Att was dismissed. went to
the prosecuting attorney and asked
what he had against us. He said
he, personally, had nothing against
us. He said he liked my husband.
But the Black Mountain Coal Cor
poration does not like him.
Charity Poorly Rewarded
Q-Why?
A-To be frank, the prosecuting
attorney did say: "You gave away
flour. You are feeding the children,
and we don't like that" or some
b1llllh lANS NAAoOs
Mrs. Appleman then explained
that they and the Black Mountain
Corporation had for some time been
involved in litigation over lot the
Applemans own at Black Mountain
and which the company would like
to acquire.
The Governors commission COM
mented as follows on this case:
Here, it seems, the finest trait
and virtue, charity, was lily re-
warded by the authorities. Mrs
Appleman's testimony should be
read in full, for its probative value
lies in the detail of circumstances
she relates. The commissioners
taking her testimony we're greatly
impressed by her sincerity. 1t is the
testimony of a good and truthful
woman"
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