Montana labor news., 1939-08-24
INQUEST OF MALIN
DEATHS SHOWS need
OF MORE ASSISTANCE

An inquest was held Monday last,
August 81, into the deaths of Jess
and Della Malin, at their apartment
at 112 W. Broadway, in Butte.
Phil O'Donnell and John K. Clax-
ton appeared for the Public Welfare
Council, an organization existing
throughout the state for the purpose
of assisting those in need to obtain
public assistance. The county attor-
ney was represented by w. B. Free
bourn, deputy county attorney.
The testimony showed that Jess
Malin took his life because he was
not willing to prolong the process of
starvation melted out to him by the
Welfare Board. Mrs. Malin was
shocked to death by horror at the
tragic end of her husband.
For three years the Mains were
unable to work and had neither prop
erty nor money. The Welfare De-
partment estimated that their needs
each month were $3l. For April,
1899, they received SIG; for May,
June and July, $11.2O; and for
August they received 1920. The
board decided that no allowance had
been or would be made them for
shelter. The Miners Union COM
mittee has been active for more than
a year; and during the past six
months has been trying to prevent
their eviction. They were able to
keep the Mains, through the kind
ness of the landlady, in their apart
ment on S. Main street until June
of this year. They succeeded in get
ting the apartment at liz W. Broad
way without payment Of rent from
June until the date of the deaths
of Mr.. and Mrs. Malin.
On the night of the tragedy, there
was little or no food in the apart
ment, and the couple were under
threat of immediate eviction. Lack
Of funds is the excuse of the county
department for this condition. No
check could be obtained on this
statement made by Mr.. O'Braun, the
county supervisor, as the matter was
within the knowledge of the county
commissioners. During O'Braun's
testimony, County Commissioner
Dan D. Sullivan was in attendance
at the inquest. None Of the other
commissioners attended.
The evidence disclosed that awards
are made to those in need without
any reference to their sufficiency to
provide subsistence. Mr.. O'Braun
testified that he was not familiar
with living costs in Butte. Neither
Mr.. O'Braun nor DR.. Potter, chair
man of the state board, would do
anything to relieve the situation.
They frankly admit that the amounts
allowed are not sufficient. DR.. Pot
ter claimed that the Supreme Court
has prevented the state board from
doing anything to remedy the situa-
ton. He testified that he had talked
to the Governor, and that the Gov
ernor was non-commital. DR.. Potter
said that he would refuse to use the
moneys authorized by the State
Board of Examiners, by its order
made on July 10, 1899, declaring an
emergency, and authorizing the ex-
penditure of sufficient money to
operate the department. The state
department is authorized to make a
grant to the county department
when the poor funds of the county
have been exhausted. The absence
of the county commissioners from
the inquest prevented information
on this point. Mr.. O'Braun believed
that the county had some money I'M
expended. If this be so, then the
county commissioners are responsible
for the inadequate allowance made
to the Mains which brought about
the dependency leading to their
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