Evening journal., 1898-02-04
Els HOME At BETHEL, DEL.
TROUBLE OF A BLIND MAN IN
BALTIMORE AND THE STORY HE
TOLD.

TOLD.
A blind man. who gave the name of
Robert +. Summers, was arrested yes
terday by Patrolman Poll, eastern dis
trict, as he went about with three
young girls singing a variety Of songs
and selling them from door to door,
says the Baltimore Sun Of to-day.
The patrolman charged him with
peddling without q license, but when
arraigned before Justice Janetzke,
Summers exclaimed. dramatically: II
am an author. and these songs which
am selling are the product of my own
brain. Every man has the right TO sell
without a license that which he makes
himself"
The Justice took this view of the
case and dismissed the charge, but in
quired about the three young singers.
Summers stated that the Oldest girl
who was about II, was his own daugh-
ter, but that the other two were Ida
and Cora Brown. children of Mrs. Mary
Brown, a widow, of Richmond, Va,
who had given him written document
making him custodian Of the children
so that he could use them in selling
songs in consideration of compensa-
tion to the mother for their services.
One Of the Brown children is ~ and
| the other years old.
Last might Summers was rearrested
/ through Agent Parker. who unearthed
an old law which prohibits the parents.
| guardians, relatives or others to let out
I children under 16 to any persons for
the purpose of hire or for any wander
ing business. The penalty Is a fine Of
not less than $50 nor more than $500
and Imprisonment in Jail from thirty
days TO one year. The child so let out
Is to be deemed a vagrant and com
mitted to a reformatory.
Summers was rearrested when he
| went to the station with his daughter
TO carry suppers for the two children
taken away from him. The daughter
was also arrested. Agent Parker took
the two Brown girls 10 his home.
The two girls were turned over 10
Matron Ellen Fried by the magistrate
who said that he did not believe the
blind mans story and would ask Agent
Parker Of the Society for the Protec.
tion of Children, to investigate thl
matter. Summers was allowed to de
part with the girl whom he claimed az
his daughter.
The Brown children are both pretty
intelligent and neatly and comfortabl!
dressed. They spoke Of Summers a
papa" and said that they left hom
Eve weeks ago with him They hal
been to Norfolk, Newport News, Della
ware Philadelphia and the Easter
Shore. Summers has a wife and fam
, lily at Bethel, Del, whom they ha
| visited They had come to Baltimor
| Yesterday from Cambridge on tn
steamer Joppa, and were on their wa
70 Washington and Richmond Sum
, mers, they said, had promised thei
mother TO get back home in two NOR
weeks. Both said that they were sal
ished TO travel about with Summers.
The blind man gave a romantic stor
Of his career. He said that he had bee
[, horn in 1849 on the sailing shin Robel
= Summers. commanded by his fathe
= while on a passage between Charles
!. ton, s. c., and New York. A fe
months after his birth ne became blin,
His parents removed to Ohio, and a
p. ter their death he was adopted by
!, wealthy friend Of the family. who's
name he has taken. He spent fOurtee
n wears in a blind asylum at Columbu
n Ohio, after which, he says, his patro
: sent him to Manchester. Englan,
= where for year and a half he studie
medicine, when he was compelled I
q, return to the United States by IN
death Of his benefactOr, who left him
legacy of $4,000. With that none
. he says, he entered into business, bl
made failure Of it. and then took
Il writing and peddling songs.