Police and Prison Officials Selflessly Aid A Family In Dire Need

120 years ago the social safety net was full of holes.

If you were homeless with children Elbridge Gerry and the Society For The Prevention of Cruelty To Children could temporarily help with the kids. But there was no unemployment insurance and private charity was the main outlet for aid.

This story appeared in The Evening World December 24, 1892.  A working man earned about ten dollars a week.

MOVED STRONG MEN TO TEARS

Woman and Four Children Reach the Tombs Almost Frozen

Her Husband Out of Work And All Dispossessed

A woman carrying a babe in her arms and followed by throe little children, the oldest only eight years old, staggered into the Tombs Police Court this morning. It was during the busiest part of the session, when court officers, witnesses, lawyers and clients were crowded up to the bar, and the little party passed through into a rear room almost unnoticed.

There was a cheerful fire In the room, and around it the poorly clad, half-frozen children gathered. A moment later the building reverberated with pitiful wails from two of the children, who suffered intense pain as their numbed feet and hands began to thaw out by the fire.

A messenger was dispatched for food and warm coffee for the little sufferers. The woman as soon as she was able told a pitiful story.

She said her name was Mrs. Frank Poltney (Poultney according to census records -ed.) , and that her husband, a sober and industrious man, had been out of work and unable to earn anything for over a month.

Three weeks ago the husband fell and broke his arm, and two weeks ago they were dispossessed from their home at 206 West Sixtieth street, and she and her children were taken in by a Mrs. Connor, of 51 Carmine street, where they remained until this morning.

She had concluded to have her children committed to an institution until she could support them and so went to Essex Market.

A man who she thought was a Gerry agent sent her to the Tombs, telling her that was the place to go. They walked all the distance In the biting cold, and the half-naked children were nearly at the point of dropping down when the Tombs was reached.

Detective McNaught, who had been rubbing the hands of the children, trying to start circulation, and at the same time listening to the sad story, suddenly sprang up, and left the room. When he returned his eyes were suspiciously red and approaching the poor woman he said, “Here’s a dollar for you, and here’s my card. Send your husband to me and I’ll get him work right off. I’ve got five little ones myself,  and God knows I wouldn’t want to see them suffer as yours now do.”

That started it. Warden Pilsbury, of Blackwell’s Island, gave $2: Justice Grady the same amount: Sergt. Langan,$1: Agent Schultz $1 and the others quarters and half dollars until a purse of about $15 was made up.

The poor woman almost fainted from Joy.

Agent Schultz promised to take care of the three older children for a few days until she could get a new home, and, in the event of her failure, to formally have them committed.

The officer at the Essex Market exceeded his authority In turning the woman out in the cold and without a penny too. He will be called to account. It was his case, and he should have at least investigated it.

The temperature on that Christmas Eve walk to the Tombs was 13 degrees.

By 1900 the Poultney family was on stable footings with Frank Poultney earning a living as an electrician. With wife Louisa and five children William (15), Louisa (13) Frank Jr, (12), Florence (8) and John (7) the family had relocated to Oyster Bay, Long Island.