The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1892-01-05
CHARMED BY A BLACK

The Effect of q Little Negro Waits Sing
ing ON Hardened Prisoners.
The wonderful power of a little child's
song on hardened criminals was illustrated
in two police stations yesterday, says the
Philadelphia Record. Officer Garnet, Of
the Nineteenth district. noticed a little
colored boy crying piteously just after the
noon hour, ut Eleventh and Locust st reefs.
Lost child" unused the officer, and then
..Hullo, johnny, what's the matter?''
The boy looked scared half to death at
the sight Of the big policeman, but man
aged to sob out:
" want my mammal"
The queer little waif was taken to the
Nineteenth district police station. He was
we'll dressed, wore a smart cap, trimmed
with gold lace, and looked unusually intel.
ligent. A volley of questions could not ex-
tract from him where he lived, and ALL he
cared to say was: MY name is Joseph
Edwards Reason and / am nine years old"
Hc had a clear voice and Hpoke With unus-
ual distinctness. In a few minutes he had
forgotten his troubles and went to make
friends with the station houss cats. Then
he walked up to a big sergeant and said:
II can sing; can your"
The big sergeant was so astonished at his
small questioner that he let his cigar fall
on one Of the cots, but none Of the officers
laughed. They ware too astonished.
-&H = GiA 61liEs VII OlV ~ LILY GuAuAY 8GAOOl
songs" volunteered the small boy. Then,
without waiting for an invitation, his clear.
soprano voice, full of sweetness, rang out
the words of Jesus, Lover of my Soul"
The effect was startling, and every one
listened respectfully. Men off duty came
tiptoeing down stairs, and soon the little
singer had u group Of officers about him.
Jumps cnms up in their throRts, pipes were
laid down. and eyes bocame suspiciously
moist. The prisoners who ware recovering
from their sundays debauch. waiting for
the patrol wagon to take them to prison,
stopped their cursing and listened. After
tho last note died way a hardened sinner,
whom the detectives know as y desperate
criminal, jumped mp, and in a husky whis-
per said to tho turnkey:
Hardy, dat's de stuff. Make de kid sing
some more. Seer"
The little warbler could do nothing but
sing. and to provide hin with an ~all-night
lodging he was taken to the central police
station. His eyes danced as he saw the
brilliantly lighted apartment, as he let go
the patrol sergealnt's hand to cautiously in
spect the cells. In the frst cell was a surly
colored man, who was waiting a hearing
before Magistrate Clement far burglary.
In the other cells were two "hard" char
acters.
"Hullo, sonny! What are We in fur2''
said one OF the prisoners. making a des-
perate attempt at n joke.
The boy looked curiously at the nninviting
facs through the iron bars, and said: Mis-
ter, ! kin sing"
The burglar drew back abashed. Then the
boy sang: Count a Milestone Further On.n
His voice swelled like a birds, and the big
reserves who were waiting for the macis-
trate were paralyzed. To the astonishment
of everybody the prisoners Joined in the
chorus. and the burglar supplied the har-
mony with his deep basso. Then tho boy
sans other hymns, and ut last ran and gave
the prisoners a drink of water at their re-
quest. Az the prisoners walked to facs the
magistrate he went to sleer like a tired
WAndarer.