Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-08-22
LITTLE JOE's Cruel MASTER.
An Orphan Boy Plugged for q Mans
Amusement.

Joseph OBrien, aged fourteen, walked
into the Charles-5treet statiOn-house car
rying a small valise last night and asked
for a nights lodging. He is very small
and youthful looking, and the sergeant,
who is used 10 dealing with burly tramps,
took an interest in him and asked HIM
where he came from.
In simple, straightforward manner
the lad told the story of bis life:
"My parents died IN Liverpool, Eng
land. when was seven years old. was
placed in the Kirkdel Orphan Asylum,
Liverpool. Soon after the authorities
shipped me and some fifty other orphans
70 ST. Catharine's, Ontario, Canada.
ave we're placed in an asylum there,
but az fast as possible we were bound ont
10 neighboring farmers. ! went to work
Tor a man named Lesson. He was
fiend. | had TO herd fourteen cows, sta
ble them. keep the stable clean. and milk
four OF them every day. was too small
and weak to do It at first, but my master
taught me how by the frequent use OF
blaeksnake whip.
elf lie did not feel like whipping me
his wife would. / have been for days at
a time when every step | would take
would cause blood to gush from the
wounds made 10y the whip lash.
81 remained with Leeson three years.
He and his wife quarrelled one day, and
10 regain her good humor she horse
whipped me. Her husband thought that
was good idea, and he whipped me
again when she was done. He took me
into the stable and stripped me to the
waist. He cut me four times, and every
lash drew the blood. / was frantic with
pain. tried to dodge the fifth lash, but
the whip cut me across the eyes, nearly
binding me.
81 daahed out Of the stable, and fell
in the roadway. Leeson followed Inc,
and would have whipped me more but
for the timely arrival OF two big lumber
men. who turned in and whipped him,
and his wife, and the hired man, who
attempted to help his employer. The
lumbermen got my clothes, and took
me away from there. They put me in Il
hospital, and when | got out | went to
work for another farmer near Niagara
township. His name was Murd.
al worked for him year. He owed
me $50 for my years work. but when |
asked him for It he chased me off his
grounds with his dogs. Then went TO
work in boarding house for my board
and clothes. Last fall | went to koches-
ter. picked up what schooling could
In my wanderings.
"fhe last place worked in was j. 8.
Woods picture-frame factories in
Rochester. j worked there until yester-
day. BY the first mail l received let
ter from my only sister, or only relative
in fact. She is married In Liverpool
Her name is Dugsn. She writes me
that she is dying, aud wants me to go TO
her. i had saved $3.50 since l came
here. started at once and here am. "
The Sergeant at once communicated
with the Society for the Prevention Of
Cruelty 10 Children. Agent Burlando
went TO The staiion-house and took the
boy 10 the societys rooms for the night
This morning be had the lad in Jefer-
son-Market Police Court, where young
O'Brien repeated his story to Justice
Patterson. The magistrate could hardly
control his indignation when he heard
tho tale.
The society viii send the boy back to
Liverpool on steamer that sails to-mor-
row afternoon.