Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1873-06-13
a Father has his SON. II Boy OF fe n
Wears. Chained for Three Months.

Information was yesterday conveyed
to His Honor Mayor Anderson through
official SOURCES that Mr. W. G. York,
who keeps the "GoartLou Saloon, y
corner Of Bull street and Srnughton
street lane. had his little son chained
in a room Of his dwelling over the bar
room, and that lie had been kept in
this state of confinement for three
months past.
Mayor Anderson sent detective to
the place to ascertain the truth of his
statement, who, upon his return, con-
firmed the reg ort. Mr.. York then
called on the Mayor, aid made his own
statement, which was to the erect that
the boy had given him a great deal of
trouble that ever since he was four
years old he rad been addicted to
stealing, and, from time to time, had
robbed him of considerable amount
of money and other things Of value );
that he had repeatedly punished him,
effect Mr. York acknowledged that
he had, as a last resort, put a chain
upon tic boys foot, fastening the other
end in suci4 8 =. amer as to keep him
closely confined. Ie re,!uestel Mayor
sition on some revenue cutter where
lie might put the boy, III the hope of
keeping him from his vicious ana i'm
moral practices, get him away from all
association with other boys, and, per-
haps, reclaim him.
Yesterday the Mayor determined to
vsit the place where the boy was said
to be eoAAlcd. and examine for him
self the exact cons stiion of affairs.
Upon entering the IooL1 = sickening
and disgusting sight, even worse than
had been Represented, met his aston
ished gaze. There, i'll II room ten by
twelve feet i'll size, stood the youthful
victim of q fathers rage. The boy. as
we have said, a mere child of ten
years, hearing footsteps, attempted to
conceal himself behind the door, but
the cnal4, ,2lv three or four feet in
length, prevertec his getting very far
from the spot. He was pesfe"tlv nude.
with the exception of an OLD filthy
jacket which was thrown around his
shoulders. His person was in filthy
condition, and the poor boy looked the
very image Of q condemned criminal.
His right foot, around which the chain
had been locked for three long months,
bore the marks of the iron which had
worn into the skin. The boy was
chained 20 The iron leg of a sewing
machine, which W4s. screwed lao the
floor. The sight was truly reyOlting
to a human man. and actually horrlfy-
ing to Il father.
Mayor Anderson left the place Ill dis
gust, and immediately dispatched a
special policeman to bring the boy
away.
A reporter Of the Advertiser subse-
quently Intervene! the boy, and says
He stated that he had t,een chained by
his father iii the condition above stated !
since about two weeks before st. Pat I
rick,s day, which would be about the |
Sd OF March; that his father chained
him because he stole, which he did not /
pretend to deny: that he had been in |
the haiti of stealing SINCE he was born
in IConnecticut, and that his mother
died when he was ''little." Upon be- |
ing Intercepted as TO the largest |
amount of money he ever stole at one |
time, he replied, without hesitation,
"Seven dollars, which Che spent for
candy, dividing it with his playmates
He said, also, that he had enough to
eat, and water to drink during his |
except at one time,
when the girl employed in the house
failed to attend properly to iais vents.
By some means this fact was known to
some of his playmates, and they
up to the windows and sup
piled him with bread and cheese.
His answers to questions were low
aud apparently unwillingly wrung from
him: Evidently he is boy of evil
who, if not curbed in
time, will lead to direfIl results. Even
1T this tender age he appears TO be
hardened in vice, which, however, may
10 the cruel treatment which he has
received. -SaoaanQh Advertiser, 31st. ]