In their investigations in Carteret County, as in other counties, welfare workers sometimes find very distressing situations. On of this kind that was particularly sordid was brought to light a few days ago. It was of a family living a few miles from Lukens. It seems that the matter was brought to the attention of the grand jury, and that body ordered the County Welfare Department to investigate it. On Monday County Welfare Officer Alvah Hamilton and County Health Officer Dr. T. C. Britt made the investigation. A family of 13 persons were found, consisting of a man and wife, nine children and two illegitimate grandchildren.
The two latter are the offsprings of a woman apparently about 20 years of age. The oldest of these grandchildren is about 3 years old and the youngest three months. The latter is said to have a negro father. The nearest neighbor of these people lives about 2 ½ miles away.
The man of the family is about 50 years old and works for some lumber company and is said to make pretty good wages. The home, however, indicates poverty of the most abject kind. There are no bedsteads in the house and little furniture or conveniences of any sort. The children have no shoes and are unkept in appearance. The members of the family are mostly illiterate.
The case has been reported to Mrs. Kate Burr Johnson and an effort will be made to get the young woman in Samarcand and to have some disposition made of her two children.
County Welfare Officer Alvah Hamilton and Mrs. F. C. Salisbury, who assists him, have been doing considerable work recently looking after delinquent boys and girls. Several of these have been committed to institutions intended for the purpose.
Editor's Note: Samarcand Manor, State Home and Industrial School for Girls, Samarcand; Miss Agnes B. MacWaughton, Superintendent. Receives delinquent white girls by court commitment or on voluntary request. Commitments shall not be made for any specified length of time. When legally committed, a girl remains a charge of the institution during her minority or until such time as she shall be discharged. It is the policy of Samarcand to give preference to young girls. During the last biennial period 133 girls have been received. Of this number 6 have been paroled and 4 have been transferred to Caswell Training School. Of the total number handled during the period 93 girls have been paroled.
From the front page of the Beaufort News, Thursday, Oct. 28, 1926
newspapers.digitalnc.org/lccn/sn91068210/1926-10-28/ed-1/seq-1/
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