Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1875-10-23
JOSEY SULLIyAN'S TRAGIC DEATH.
The Boys Supposed kidnapping DisprOved
---His Dead Body Found In n Feed Store
Near His Home.

The Boys Supposed kidnapping DisprOved
His Dead Body Found in n Feed Store
Near His Home.
The mysterious disappearance of little
Josey Sullivan, the infant child of Mr..
and Mrs. Dennis Sullivan, of New York,
on September 16, presented a problem
which the police were unable to solve,
but which was made clear by most
painful discovery. 1t will be remember
ed that the child was described by his
parents as strong and active, but not
likely to have strayed away from the
block on which he lived, on account of
his fear of crossing the street, feeling
that had been encouraged by his father.
Mr.. Sullivan therefore secuted the
theory of the police, which was that
Josey had probably strayed to the river
side and fallen into the water. He was
inclined to think that the boy had been
stolen, and there was considerable rea-
son to suppose that such was the case,
but the police were as incredulous of
this as the father was of their opinion.
Thos. Rush, who keeps feed store, was
engaged with James Devine, a young
man in his employ, in moving some
bales of hay which were piled five deep
on one side of his store, when on NOV
ing those in the lowest tier he found the
body of the lost child wedged between
two of the bales. The lower part of the
body was nearly perfect, although the
decay of three weeks had, of course,
greatly altered the appearance of the
face. The lower part had, however,
been eaten away by rats, and it present
ed a sickening spectacle. No mark of
violence were visible on his person, and
it was thought probable that the child
had strayed around to the store in his
play and had mounted the bales in sport,
perhaps with the thought of hiding
from his nurse, whom he knew would be
looking for him soon.
He probably slipped or fell between
the bales, which were not packed closely
together, and was wedged in too closely
to make his way out. Here he remained
and died terrible death. The store was
one that he was frequently known to
pass on his way to and from his fathers
stable in Washington street, and was on
the same square on which he lived. 1t
seems almost unaccountable that he
should not have cried out so as to be
heard by those in the store when he
found that he was imprisoned. He was
not child, however, who easily cried,
and he may with his natural sturdiness
have tried to extricate himself without
calling for help, and he may have only
cried out when the store was closed fol
the night. But if, as is more probable
he called for help Immediately or soon
after his fall, the cries were probably
drowned by the noises Of the street
Over the cob le-stone pavement in from
of the store is constant stream of pass
ing teams, which make deafening roa
through the day, and the numerous
children of the neighborhood are vocif
erous in their play. The noise that HI
may have made would therefore b,
4 easily drowned. On the other hand, HI
may have been stunned by his fall, ant
been unable to cry out. ...
The news of the finding of the body
, vas taken Immediately to the station
house and the coroner was informed. 4
man was also sent to see the body, ant
= from the description of Josey Sullivan
already in the possession of the police
it was at once evident that the bod
a found was undoubtedly that of the chill
. who was lost three weeks ago. AS sool
, as this was discovered word was sent t
q Mr.. Sullivan's house. Mr.. Sullivan ha
8 just gone out, and the officer saw hi
q wife. He either told her or she under
Q stood him to say that her boy had bee
g found, and he questioned her closel
n about the clothes the child had on. Sh
b described exactly the clothing found O.
v the body, and no possible doubt remain
f ed of its identity. She was of cours
IS greatly agitated, and wanted to kno7
n where the child was. The officer woul
d not tell her, fearing the consequences
q she should see the body without bein
d prepared for the sight. She asked if he
,s child was at the station-house, and b
e told her it was not, and advised her
wait till her husband should retur
home This she would not listen to, an
putting on her hat and shawl, starte
out in frenzy of excitement to find th
: boy. Having no clew she was unable
a accomplish anything by her search, an
- =. soon returned home to wait for her hu
\ band.
- Mr. Sullivan returned and went imm
= diately to the station, where the inform
- :, ton that the officer had refused to giV
=, Mrs. Sullivan was at once given to hin
= He identified the remains.
ir The Same Blessing.
ke once engaged girl as domestic a