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YOUNG MOI HER(Continued 'nun Page l)ADC and thought that work would ho better hrre.So with 16 month-old DebraLouise and two-month-old Sonja Gail, the Portis’ came east. Tire trouble throughout Arizona took almost all of their reserve cash and the car limped into Alamogordo in need of repairs.Rut work wasn’t to be had“My husband put in applies tions at Holloman and then trod all oxer town to get a job,” Mrs. Portis said. “But he just couldn’t get anything. The employment office said they couldn’t help him unless ho had a permanent address and the welfare people couldn’t help because we were from out of state.“All the time we w-ere living in the ear and getting hungrier all the time Johnny and his f r i e n d\s tried to help with what they could but it wasn’t much 1 wouldn’t eat much so that we coifld give it to the babies but then I got sick and mv husband got inad and said that he'd had enough.That must have been the day that Portis and Dye pulled the El Paso station robbery. But they only netted $.'M“My husband left here' with Johnny Friday night. Mrs Por tis said. “I waited all night for them to come hack Then Saturday afternoon the sheriff came by and told me that they were in jail.“I don’t know what the babies and I will do.With her blonde hair braided around her head and wearing shirt and play shorts. Roberta looks like a high school student.hut the 18 year-old mother is fearful and distraught. Trying to be calm and make some plans like an adult and mature poison is something she hasn't had to face and the effort is tellingNo Help, No FriendsHer famih virtually has dis owned her and no help can be expected from that quarter. She has no friends in Alamogordo, onlv what money kindly citv and county police officers have given her out of their own pockets ami a broken-down car for shcl ter at night in the dark city parkIt's m\ babies that I'm worried about, she said bravelyIf we had some place to stay.I might he- able to find work and some one to look after them while I'm working Roberta has been getting warm food from restaurants lor the children and buying cold gro ceries for herself tsing the pub lie restrooms in the park, she has kopf hoth horsclf and the ha hies clean and neat, but it is a losing battleShe thought that perhaps sheshould go to El Paso to be near her husband in county jail there but without funds or friends there, it seemed a pointlessmove.Roberta Portis and her babies need some Good Samaritan in Alamogordo to give them shelter for awhile until a court will de cide what to do with Benjamin Portis who apparently stole to buy bread and milk for his two hungry babies and teenage wife.We're Managing'“We're managing, Roberta said with a courageous little smile as she indicated the crowded, bedding and clothes strewn car interior “My babies won't go hungry and I won’t be parted from them, she added fit relyRegardless of how people might judge the actions of her husband, Roberta l-oretta Portisis showing all the attributes of a young mother facing adversity
Newspaper Details
Alamogordo Daily News
Alamogordo, New Mexico, US
Mon, Jul 22, 1957
Page 8
Full Page
Clipped by
Allen C.
IN, USA 02 Oct 2021
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