The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1856-08-14
THE DAILY DISPATCH.
Thursaay Morning, Ausust Il, 1896.
Ans fath 70 Shame.-A Letter from a IA.
ther 10 his krriue Son.

tner 10 hts krring Son.
| Our readers, says the Chicago Tribune, OF the
"a inst nave already found the circumstance of
| the arress OF Frederick Bigg and his young nc.
compiee, James Harold. for robbine the Chicago
POI" ofhce, and the trial and conviction OF Birr
detAled in the columns Of our paper Soon after
haroias arrest, the following letter was sent to
hin oy his father. II Is beautifully written. and
oesfaya the full depth of the shame and despair
INTO which the family have been plunged by the
errors OF q loved and darling SON Scarce wear
ago young haroid left home ~ happy and plea.
| can't as kindly, afectionate hearts and uudyino
love and faith in Heaven could makeit Upon the
verge OF bis manhood, unstained and uuspotted
ne LEFT IT, TO win for himself an honorable name In
our city: To-day he fills felon's cell with long
years OF confinement with other felons before him
10 the very outset Of his crime he has blasted his
own fair prospect In life and brought do wn sorrow
and shame upon kind and doting parents II ware
ostter 10 at he had died in his infancy ere shame
had been written upon his brow for then those
parents might, as they stood by his little grave
have gazed through the mist of their tears mn IN
thaf better land Now the only vision beyond
!hat bitter, binding mist, is the gloomy walls and
IRON gratings OF the conviets home 4a7t. =.
We ask every young man to read this letter
,hat his resolutions for good may be formed anew
ana that he inay be fully impressed with the far
reaching consequences of the wicked acts he NAV
be tempted to commit =,
MY DEAR JAMEs-The painful news of your i'm
prisonment was received yesterday and it has fill
ed the 1ninds of your mother aud myself with pro-
iouua grief that you, who have had opportunities
.uAt out fsw could possess to the selection in
lite OF any honorable station provided YOU yyould
Ut yourself forit, with home to be welcomed to,
win every comfort to be desired should at the en-.
trauce to manhood, have degraded yourself aud
disgraced your family. Where you have copied
The example from is to me- a mystery For years
nave been the recipient of situations of honor
and trust hoidiug many of the prominent stations
III our county, and with regards of the highest
nOt. ba
picture and ths realities you have substituted 1t
appears to q dream.
What could induce you thus TO offend the laws
OF your ceuatryf Not want Did not tell you,
when you left home, that if you connected your
seif respectfully, would consign you goods; and
have not frequently asked you, if by sny means
eould help you alongs
Look my erring son, at the words wrote on the
ftst page of the Bible. presented you on leaving
home Alas! how true the sentiiae ents they .x-
press
You received introductions to respectable mer-
chants, to one of the Chicago cergynen, (the Rev.
w. A. Smallwood0 and with what entreaties did
your mother and myself urge you to connect
yourself with church and Sunday .chool We
have just read your first letter, promising to make
yourself an honorable name, and associate with
respectable persons; and can it be possible that
even at that period you we're associated with this
AS write, reflect what home have YOU lost
and where are your In a Jail, and for stealing
hO sSt, 'oo, VI youT Iauuy OF WnlcQ L nave any
record, who for hundreds OF years have borne
family escutcheon without = stain What can
dc for you Your mother, almost broken heart
ed, cannot be left, and what could do, were l to
come to Chicago? From Captain Connects letter
it seems that the proof against you is positive The
laws OF your country mt D: be vindicated; see no
way but to let justice take its But in our
extremity what can recommend better than that
yOu should tell the whole TRUTH and east yourself
ON the mercy Of the Court before which you will
he tried But one consolation is left, and that is
repentance and prayer TO God. He only can help
you, by forgiving you your sins, and bringing you
to knowledge of peace In Jesus Christ oh / at
once cry to him for aid and direction, and may the
urgency OF your case lead you to true repentance
We had been anticipating surprise for you in
the shape Of a number of presents articles of
clothing, and on your arrival at age, next April q
SUN of money; but our fand hope are all vanish
ed, and until receive advices from you or Captain
Connett, we know not haw we can help ysu
The first Monday in July Is set down for your
trial. What day il will be for your parents =
Would to God, my son James, ,you had died in your
infancy, unsp0tted from the world
Your mother sends her love; yes, we both do for
we ehave hope that this painful and affective cir.
cumstance your first step in crime, viii be your
last Until that is atoned for what will you and
we have to sufferf
remain your afflicted and distressed