Poormaster
Encyclopedia
Poormaster is the name of a now obsolete job position similar to that of Paymaster
. Most of the states in the early United States
had their own poormaster.
The duties of a poormaster were to validate those who applied for relief
and issue funds. The job was often a political sinecure
before the 1930s. However the job was not without its risks. Those rejected often held grudges and poormasters were sometimes guarded by police officers during the Great Depression
.
Harry L Barck was one such. He held the position of Poormaster for the city of Hoboken, New Jersey
. He was killed by Joseph Scutellaro, a frustrated applicant, on February 15, 1938. Scutellaro, who killed Barck with a spindle
, received two years.
The occupation ceased to exist after the 1940s, with the advent of Social assistance
.
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Paymaster
A paymaster often is, but is not required to be, a lawyer . When dealing with commission payments on contracts dealing with large amounts of money , most banks in the United States are very wary of handling such large amounts of money...
. Most of the states in the early United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
had their own poormaster.
The duties of a poormaster were to validate those who applied for relief
Relief
Relief is a sculptural technique. The term relief is from the Latin verb levo, to raise. To create a sculpture in relief is thus to give the impression that the sculpted material has been raised above the background plane...
and issue funds. The job was often a political sinecure
Sinecure
A sinecure means an office that requires or involves little or no responsibility, labour, or active service...
before the 1930s. However the job was not without its risks. Those rejected often held grudges and poormasters were sometimes guarded by police officers during the Great Depression
Great Depression
The Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic depression in the decade preceding World War II. The timing of the Great Depression varied across nations, but in most countries it started in about 1929 and lasted until the late 1930s or early 1940s...
.
Harry L Barck was one such. He held the position of Poormaster for the city of Hoboken, New Jersey
Hoboken, New Jersey
Hoboken is a city in Hudson County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city's population was 50,005. The city is part of the New York metropolitan area and contains Hoboken Terminal, a major transportation hub for the region...
. He was killed by Joseph Scutellaro, a frustrated applicant, on February 15, 1938. Scutellaro, who killed Barck with a spindle
Spindle (stationery)
A spindle is an upright spike used to hold papers waiting for processing. "Spindling" or "spiking" was the act of spearing a paper document onto the spike....
, received two years.
The occupation ceased to exist after the 1940s, with the advent of Social assistance
Welfare
Welfare refers to a broad discourse which may hold certain implications regarding the provision of a minimal level of wellbeing and social support for all citizens without the stigma of charity. This is termed "social solidarity"...
.
Works
- Historian Holly Metz wrote a book on Barck. http://www.state.nj.us/state/divisions/historical/Word%20documents/FY%2008%20Projects%20-%20press%20release%20list.rtf
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