Tarrant County TXGenWeb

Treasures From the City Archives
The Poor and Imprisoned

Compiled by Shirley Apley, Senior Librarian
Genealogy, Local History, Archives - Fort Worth Public Library

 
Were your ancestors poor? Were they ever imprisoned? If you can answer yes to these questions then you need to ask another question. Where do I locate records to verify these facts? The Fort Worth City Archives has records of this nature located within its council meeting files. In the early days of its development the City took care of the rich and the poor. They recorded the information in various forms. Here are two letters submitted to the Fort Worth City Council asking for funds to refurbish the paupers and the prisoners accounts. Also, included is a letter of resignation from a former city employee with an announcement of his replacement. And finally, there is a request for a ten day leave of absence by the city attorney so that he may attend his parent's 50th wedding anniversary.

These items are located in the Genealogy, History, Archives Unit of the Fort Worth Public Library. You may obtain photocopies of these items by writing to us at 500 West 3rd Street, Fort Worth, Texas 76102.

Fort Worth, April 16th, 1900

Hon. Mayor and City Council:

Gentlemen:

Below please find statement of pauper expenses since my last report.

Respectfully submitted,

W. M. Rea
  
Date Name Action

Amount Paid
9/15/1899 Miss Boone Ticket to Dallas

$0.95
9/19/1899 Miss Dora Smith Ticket to Hico

$1.80
9/20/1899 W. Wells Ticket to Gainsville

$1.00
9/24/1899 R. G. Long Ticket to Sanger

$0.70
10/7/1899 H. E. Sweet Ticket to Tayler

$4.85
10/10/1899 A. P. Sprinkle, for Mrs. Edwards Cash

$7.00
10/12/1899 Fanny Ezzry Ticket to Dallas

$0.50
10/12/1899 Mrs. Becker for Mrs. Kate Reiter Cash

$1.50
11/03/1899 Mrs. Nora Norris Ticket to Paris

$2.20
11/27/1899 Mrs. Pace Ticket to Stephenville

$1.30
11/14/1899 Mattie Luling Ticket to Belton

$2.00
11/14/1899 Dock Hamilton Water rent

$1.50
11/16/1899 Montgomery Ticket to Dallas

$0.95
11/20/1899 Maggie Hood Ticket to Sherman

$1.35
11/21/1899 W. E. Droescher Ticket to Gainsville

$1.00
12/02/1899 Otto Schmidt Ticket to Waco

$2.65
12/03/1899 John Guile Ticket to Gainsville

$1.00
12/08/1899 John Moody, wife & child Ticket to Dallas

$1.50
12/08/1899 John Moody, wife & child Ticket to Cavenal I. T

$9.90
12/12/1899 L. A. Cameron Cash

$5.00
12/18/1899 H. Reynolds Ticket to Wills Point

$1.20
12/19/1899 Mrs. M. J. Lyons Ticket to Denison

$2.90
12/22/1899 Dr. Lesterfet Ticket to Dallas

$0.50
12/21/1899 T. B. Wallace for Mrs. Wilkins Cash

$4.00
12/28/1899 G. F. Patrick Ticket to Houston

$4.15
12/29/1899 A. F. Roberts Ticket to Waco

$2.65
1/4/1900 Mrs. Laura Collins Ticket to Dallas

$0.50
1/9/1900 B. Constantine Ticket to Shreveport

$3.60
1/9/1900 E. P. Lemaster Ticket to Cleburne

$0.45
1/9/1900 Arnold Gettler for Mr. Parish Cash

$0.45
1/26/1900 Arnold Gettler Cash

$0.90
2/3/1900 Mrs. Baker Ticket to Gainsville

$1.00
2/7/1900 Mrs. Bishop Board for Nellie Drake

$2.00
2/13/1900 Mrs. Wilkins Ticket to Strawn

$1.25
2/13/1900 Mrs. Wilkins Freight and boxes

$1.45
1/1/1900 Dock Hamilton Water rent

$1.50
3/1/1900 L. Ghio Ticket to Shreveport

$3.30
3/2/1900 Mrs. Bishop Cash

$2.25
3/10/1900 Mrs. Sharp Ticket to Austin

$5.95
3/10/1900 Mrs. Sharp Baggage

$0.55
3/28/1900 Mrs. Anderson Cash

$4.00
3/27/1900 Fannie Humphries Ticket to Waco

$1.35
4/1/1900 Mrs. Goss Ticket to Weatherford

$0.95
4/1/1900 Mrs. Goss Cash

$0.50
4/10/1900 S. P. Clark for Mrs. Bradford Ticket

$11.25
4/11/1900 Mrs. Monahans Ticket to Nora Springs, Iowa

$12.75
Total

$120.00

Jany, 4th, 1900

Hon. Mayor and City Council,

Gentlemen:

On Dec. 23rd, 1899 I released from the City prison on account of Christmas Holidays the following named persons then confined in said prison, and would most respectfully ask you to remit the balance due on said fines.

Yours respectfully,

W. M. Rea
Chief of Police
 
Christmas Prisoners
 
Capias No. Name of Prisoner

Amn't of Fine

Work

Balance
1292 Gus Bader

$12.95

9 days

$3.95
1323 Maggie Moore

$7.45

6 days

$1.45
1328 C. A. Wilkins

$9.95

5 days

$4.95
1332 Tom O'Connor

$10.45

5 days

$5.45
1333 Louis Bryant

$7.45

6 days

$1.45
1337 Ben Walsh

$7.45

5 days

$2.45
1343 Wm. Cowan

$6.45

5 days

$1.45
1351 John Rains

$9.95

5 days

$4.45
1355 J. W. Robinson

$7.45

4 days

$3.45
1362 Jerry Rodgers

$7.45

3 days

$4.45
1363 Lena Johnson

$6.45

2 days

$4.45
1366 John Kelly

$6.45

1 day

$5.45
1367 R. L. Wilson

$6.45

1 day

$5.45
1369 W. L. Ellis

$8.95

1 day

$7.95
1370 John McHenry

$6.45

1 day

$5.45
1371 Houston Farmer

$6.45

1 day

$5.45
1373 P. J. Sullivan

$6.45

1 day

$5.45
Total

$134.65

$73.15

The Texas & Pacific Railway Co.
Telegram

December 29, 1899

To: W. M. Rea

Dear Sir,

Tonight my leave of absence expires and as I am well satisfied with the position I have with the T & P Railroad, I tender my resignation as Police Officer under you. I think that I made a good many friends while serving under you and hope that I did not make any enemies. I have a great deal of respect for you and Mr. Allen and in fact for all my Brother Officers.

With regards to all, I am respectfully yours,

F. S. Thomas
Baird, Texas

January 19th, 1900

The Hon. Mayor and City council;

Gentlemen:

I have promoted J. R. Smith from extra patrolman to regular patrolman on beat #4. Also H. C. Towns from extra patrolman to regular patrolman, vice F. S. Thomas resigned, and would most respectfully ask your confirmation of same.

Yours truly,

W. M. Rea
Chief of Police

Approved:

A. M. Scott
R. H. Tucker
J. N. Edgell

Police committee

Feby 15th, 1900

Hon. Mayor and City Council,
Fort Worth, Texas

Gentlemen,

On the 5th of next March my father and mother will have been married fifty years. It is proposed that such of their children as are living shall meet with them on that day at the old house and I will be glad to have a leave of absence for ten days for that purpose.

Respectfully,

Wm. D. Williams
City Attorney


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