The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1900-03-14
A PATHETIC STORY
The Bodies Of TWO Little Boys
Found in a Closet
OF A VACANT HOUSE.
The Cruel Monster VINO Locked
Them Up Was Arrested and
Is Now Locked Up
in Jail.

SIX months ago two little boys, eacn
about eight or nine years old, went out
Of their homes one day to play in the
streets of New York City. Their parents
lived near each other and the boys were
playmates and friends. 1t is presumed
that they were prompt to return at the
usual time after such seasons Of play
until the DAY here noted.
That day they failed to return to their
homes. Their parents set upa long anx-
ious search that continued until they
were of the opinion that both were
drowned. No clue to their disappear
ance was found. The two little boys
simply dropped out of sight, and were
gone-forever, as their parents believed.
4 few days ago, the owner, or the
renting agent of vacant house in the
neighborhood discovered the need Of a
plumber in the building. When the
house was opened and the gas or water
pipes we're traced-along through the
The building-into locked closet
where the bodies Of the two missing
children were discovered wearing the
clothes in which they were dressed
when last seen by their respective
families. Their small bodies had
become like the ancient mummies in
Egyp;-dried up and withered.
Somebody, for some season, had
locked these little friends in a dark
closet Of the empty house. The care
taker lodged in the basement. This
janitor or caretaker has been arrested,
and is nov in prison as the suspected
murderer Of these dead children.
He IS reputed to be cruel father to
his own children. Complaints had
been made against him on this line,
before the closet was opened or any
body was aware of the horrible fate OF
the two little boys 50 long missing from
their homes.
The plasteringin in the closet gave evil
dence of their struggle in death. Lit
tie finger prints became witness Of
their torture and agony. They did
their best for liberty, but died in this
prison, not a block from their homes
aud their parents.
The vicious creature, whoever he may
be, who deliberately destroyed these
little boys, ought to die by slow tor
ture. The electric chair, or the hang
mans rope would not meet the condi
tious Of exact j1stice-when the recol.
lection of what the innocent boys suf-
fered comes to ones mind. Letus hope
their struggle was brief-and death
easy-at the end.
There is lesson in this sad story for
children and for parents. 1t may be a
good deal of trouble to keep watchful
eye on children Of such tender years,
but it is nevertheless a business that
pays, in various ways. 1t should be a
warning to other children, not to 60
into forbidden places-and to keep
their parents informed as to their play
grounds, etc.
There are certainly vile people in the
world, who have no limit to their hate
or revenge. Children are kidnapped
sometimes from motives of greed as
we'll asrevenge. Very careful parents
may sometimes be considered unneces-
sarily anxious about their children,
when they are out Of sight, but that
extreme is far preferable to don't care
parents, who turn out their children to
follow their own inciinations at such
early ages.
When read this pathetic, true story,
of real life, | could almost hear the
cries of these frightened and imprisoned
captives. review the story for the
sake of other children and their