Evening star., 1939-03-12
Destitute Family
0f|mpIIrisonedk Man
Gets Food and Fuel
Community Chest Agency
Also Giving Help to
Mother and Five

Succor came last night to relieve
the immediate needs-food and fuel
of Mrs. Norah Poff, 26. whose hus-
band. John Poff, So. was sentenced
to a year in Jail Friday for beating
one of their five children. Margaret
Ann, 5, and choking another, Betty
: Lou, 7.
Left destitute when the family's
sole support was sent to jail, Mrs.
Poff had no money. no food. no fuel
Yesterday afternoon, heaping bas-
ket of food was left at the Pof home,
619 I street NV, by man who
did not give his name. Il read
about your trouble" he said, and I
want to help
Help came also from the Bureau
of Rehabilitation, Community
Chest agency which looks after the
families OF prisoners. Director
Joseph E. Dayton, giving the case
his personal attention, took one of
the bureaus workers to the home
yesterday afternoon. Money was leo
for food and fuel enough to last
over the week end
Further Check Planned.
MI. Dayton said the agency would
provide for the family until some
permanent form of support could
be arranged. Whether it can be
cared for by public assistance, he
said, has not yet been determined
A further check of the familys
eligibility for relief and plans for
its future care will be made the
first of the week.
Meanwhile, Mrs. Poff wonders
what will happen to her and her
five children. The oldest is Paul,
a study lad of 10. The youngest
is six weeks old, and between these
two are the two daughters who
appeared against their father in
Police Court, and Johnny, 2. I'd
work." Mrs. Poff said, but I can't
leave the baby, even if had some
thing to do"
-Four of the children-all but the
youngest-have Whooping cough and
Mrs. Poff said she thought she
would have to move. She owes $40
rent on the $13-a month frame
house the family occupies
L got card the other day in
the mail saying we're behind in
our rent" she remarked. Il don t
know how can pay it."
She said, however, she had not
been told to move or had received
any word from the rental agent
other than the card.
More than the question of rent.
Mrs. Pof said, was the fear she has
so feet or more from the street. a
three-room, two-story house. 1t has
no conveniences. Oil lamps sent
Pickering shadows playing over the
wall as Mrs Poff stood in the door,
way and talked. She got neigh
Dor to come in and spend last night
with her. Il m afraid to stay here
without any other grown folks" the
mother said.
Got Drunk on "Smoke."
Mrs. Poff said she hadn't heard
from her husband since he was SEN
fenced by Judge Edward NJ Curran
for the brutal treatment of his two
little girls. She reinterated that it
had never happened before. He got
drunk, she said, on something he
called smoke" That caused him to
go crazy" she said, and black Mar
garet AIMS eye and choke Betty
Lou.
1T was the first time he's ever
done anything like that" she re-
peated. Il was in the next room and
don't know how it happened"
Did he drink much?
Yes" Mrs. Poff replied, che took
his whisky when he could get it,
She said they came to Washington
from West Virginia in 1895. Hell
husband has been employed at Fort
Belvoir in Virginia and provided for
them fairly we'll, she added-when
he wasn't drinking.