The herald., 1893-09-04
SLEEPS ON HIS MOTHERS GRAVE
The Pathetic Habit of An
Abused Boy.
The Result of the Inquiries of a
Police Officer.
A Poor, Haif-witted Youth who Seeks
in a Cemetory the Only Friend
His Blighted Life Has
Ever Known.

In direct contrast to the ordinary rou-
tine of criminal business, pathetic
little story was obtained yesterday from
the police department.
During the past month many persons
whose business has taken them after
nightiall through the Catholic cemetery
have noticed the form of a youth lying
prone upon the thick grass which grows.
rank over the surface OF one of the
many graves.
Those who gave the figure lying atthe
foot of the little cross passing thought
interpreted it as being that of some
tired tramp. while the more uncharita-
BILE, after glance, muttered Drunk !"
and passed on, wondering how even
whiskey could bring its deyotees to
such an uncong enial spot.
Police Officer Mersch sauntered
through the cemetery one night about
three weeks ago and saw the figure in
the grass.
He might have thought the same as
the many other passers by and left the
unknown to his rest among the habita-
tions of the dead, had it not been for
the sound of sobs which came from the
direction of the little wooden cross
which marked the spot where the
youth lay.
Approaching the young man, who was
stretched face downwarde on the turf,
the officer placed his hand kindly on
his shoulder and asked him what was
| wrong.
The kindly tone in which the words
were spoken eeemed to increase the
youths grief. and he turned, begging
his questioner to leave him.
AS he turned the officer recognized his
face as being that of lad who lives
with his father and whose identity can
easily be learned by the society for the
prevention of cruelty to children if in
quiry is made of the officer who told the
following story to HERALD reporter:
He is half-witted, harmless boy of
20, who Mersch declares is suffering
more from ill-treatment at the hands of
his father than from lack of brains.
Three years ago the boy lost his
mother, and it appears to him as if he
lost everything. While she lived, the
youth had always one friend, who
would sympathize with him, and to
whom he could go and tell his troubles
when the other boys jeered and mocked
him.
But when his mother died his only
protector disappeared.
His father always harsh, became
brutal, and the spark of intellect which
struggled for existence in the young
mans brain became extinguished under
the burden of blows and revilings which
he was daily obliged to bear.
But there was one memory, which
even the heavy cloud that weighed
upon his brain, could not obscure.
When things at home were worse
than usual, the boy would 60 to the rest
ing place of the only friend he ever had,
and there on his mothers grave, sob
out his troubles, and find the need OF
consolation denied him elsewhere.
For a whole month, officer Mersch
declares that he has slept every night
upon his mothers tomb, and on several
occasions has refused to leave it, at the
solicitation of the officer.
Friday night he was there as.usual,
and Mersch took him to the Jail and
gave him bed.
In the morning the officer took him to
his father.
"The father" said Mersch, picked
up club to strike him with as soon as
1 entered, but." he continued, with an
expressive pause, "that was little too
much for me, and l said few words to
him, which saved the boy for that occa-
sion."