The evening world. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1887-1931, 1894-09-29
JAILED AS A vAGRANT.
Young Short Sought Work and
Found a Cell Instead.
Unless He Can Get Employment a
Long Term Awaits Him.
Sevcnteen-Year-O Boy n Victim
OF Hard Luck.

Henry Short, or Friedman as he IL
known 20 his keeper an orphan, seven.
teen years old, whose greatest crime IL
his inability to procure employment, has
been forcibiy incaroerated In the boys
ward of the Tombs prison, for NOR.
than ten days. his daily associates youns
and hardened thieves and other law.
breakers.
The serious aspect Of his case Ia that
he has not been able to commuri lea t.
with the Commissioner of Charities who
sent him to the prison, and explain his
position, for the boy IL one OF the un.
fortunate ones OF the world, who's,
wants don't usually count with the keep.
ers at the Tombs prison.
II Henry Short doesn't find some one
who wants a boy to work for him be.
fore next Tuesday IA three-months pc.
Rod on Blackwelrs Island awaits the
boy. The very thought of being sent
there has nearly driven him crazy.
II the story told by the boy is true
and no one has been found who says
anything but good of him-he is held II
duress ON charge of vagrancy, and Il
deserving of much sympathy. At tn,
same time, some explanation on tn,
part of officials as to how he landed II
prison, In the company of criminals
should be Forthcoming.
In q word, this hoy asked for work
and became the victim OF heartles.
joke. which was probably inadvertently
perpetrated by number of officials.
Ever since the day he realized his pc
culiar position, the poor boy has beer
Whispering his story In the ear Of every
man or woman visitor who CHANGED L
visit the ward. when the opportunit,
offered.
At last his. words reached the ears o
woman whose name he doesn't know
and, touched by his story, she wrote
letter to The Evening World"
She didn't know the boys right name
for to avoid the disgrace of having !
known that he had spent days ii
prison, he gave the name of Friedman
This Is what the kind-hearted woman
wrote:
NEW YORK Sept. 20,
knowing that THE Evening World" is Away
| ready to stand up for the weak and oppressed,
wish to call your attention to case which
believe viii come under that heading.
boy Is now confined In the Tombs Prison an,
will be sent to the island tor three months unlos
some one steps forward before next Tuesday an,
promises to give him employment.
This boy has committed no crime, but through
| some mistake he has been sent to the Tombs
He greatly breads being sent to the island an
to The Evening World trusting that thl
letter win ~ published and that Soipe lover Q
nam. wiz !. sn4y + s1 sSa by nuu
Of the keeper Of the boys prison more particu
lars Of the case can be learned.
ONE WHO HAS BEEN APPEALED TO but Il
UNABLE TO RENDER ASSISTANCE,
A reporter for "The Evening World
visited the Tombs Prison yesterday AT
granted an interview with the boy. Tn
keeper summoned him from an uppe
tier CELL
Short or Friedman, as the keeper
called him, has a round, est-appear
ing face, sparkling blue eyes and fairl,
Intelligent appearance. His complexioI
Is sandy, and his faxen hair yesterday
was covered by well-worn derby hat
The clothing he wore was plain bu
neat.
Short did not care to talk about him
~ don't want to speak of myself
Doesn't the keeper treat you wellT
why should he not? I'm doing tn,
same hard work that the criminals dc
here. That isn't the trouble. dom
want them to hear my name It's no
Friedman my name is Short. NJ,
| mail carrier before his death.
MY mother IL dead, too. They bott
died seven years ago and then I Wen
West all alone to make living.
went to work for a farmer named Dan,
lei Voorhees,, but after staying with hin
long time, l bad at last to leave be
cause he was 50 cruel.
II started for the East, and by steal
Ing rides on freight trains and doing ode
Jobs, finally landed in New York las
July. Then I began TO hunt for work
and occasionally found an odd job.
Eighth street, but that work playec
out, and last Tuesday week l went t
the foot Of West Tenth street to SEQ II
! could get place on an oyster barge
Somebody directed me to mar
named steel who, they said, owned d
barge nnd i0id me n that he would svf
climbed aboard the barge he said his
name wasn't Steel, but he would send
me to the Commissioner, who would
and told me to give 1t to the Commits
sioner.
81 was directed to the building on
sixth avenue and Tenth street. Jener-
note and told man that had no pla &c
TO go and wanted work.
THE next thing / knew | was here In
prison. Now | am told that ! will have
before next Tuesday"
why don't you see the Commissions
of Charities" was asked.
II cant see him: no word seems 70
reach headquarters, though I have told
every one that l could talk to that ]
didn't want to stay here.
!. why" exclaimed the little fellow
''if ! desired to get In prison. could
have robbed and got here long ago. but
don't want TO do wrong l thought
somebody was going TO give me work
but instead I'm in Jail with thieves and