Year: 1873

A Poor Man Driven to Desperation


Steals Meat for his Hungry Children
They Eagerly Devour it Raw.


1t is we'll known that at present much
suffering exists among the poor people of
this city, many of whom are out of en-
ployment, and consequently without the
means wherewith to procure the actual
necessaries of life. However, most Of
these manage by some means or other to
procure enough to stay the pangs of hung
er, but on Saturday morning an incident
occurred which showed that one family
at least had descended to the lowest depths
of want until at last it reached that
point at which must be chosen one Of the
three terrible alternatives-beg, steel or
starve. Too proud for the first, too hu
man for the last, the second alternative
was accepted.


While hastily engaged in serving his
numerous customers, on Saturday morn.
ing, butcher in one of our market
houses observed poorly dressed anxious
looking man siding cautiously up to his
stall, and casting longing, hungry eyes
upon the joints aud steaks so temptingly
displayed. Carelessly keeping an eye up
on the man and pretending not TO observe
him, the butcher soon saw him hastily
snatch up piece of steak, slip it under
his coat, and dart out of the market house
Without making any fuss, the over Of
the meat beckoned to a policeman who
happened to be standing near, told him
what had occurred, aud directed him to
follow aud arrest the man with the meat.


The officer soon came up with the cul
prit, but being curious to know what mo
tives induced the act be followed the man
to his home, in the western portion of the
city. lie arrived at the house minute
or two after the man entered, and look
ing in at the window, saw sight which
entirely unnamed him, and caused him
TO reiinquish whatever thoughts he had
previously entertained of making an arrest.
There, seated around the room, were sew
eral wretched looking children dcvour,
ing, with furnishing eagerness, the raw
meat which their father had just brought
in. So great was their hunger that they
could not wait for the meat to be cooked
but Gcvoured it in its raw state.


The officer hurried back to the butcher
and told what he had seen. The tender SEN
sibilities of the latter were touched by the
recital. and seizng basket, he placed
therein some 6ne pieces Of meat. A call
upon his fellow butchers aud statement
of the case soon filed the basket, after
which small SUN of money aud the meat
we're then taken, aud in as delicate a man
ner as possible, presented to the poor man
He acknowledged them thankfully with
tears Of JOY, and gratitude, and related
the motives which impsled him to act as
he did Out of mouey and out Of work.
he was driven to desperation at the suf
feriugs of his wife aud hungry little ones
and left the house, that morning, with
the determination to obtain food or be
sent to prison for the attempt


The above recital is strictly true, but
we forbear to mention any names, out of
respect to the unfortunate man, who has
hitherto borne an honest, irreproacbable
character. Such suffering, however, is
painful to record, and we hope that all
similar cases will be discovered and re-,
lieved, before the sufferers, in their dcs,
peration, are driven to violate the laws of
the land - Wilmington Gazette.