The daily journal. (Salem, Or.) 1899-1903, 1901-10-14
SAD
FAMILY
AFFAIR
Children in Moral Destitu-
tiOn are the Victims.
LO ks Like a COmpiracy 10
Hastily Convict a Ycung
Man t0 Protect 0thelS

On an order OF County Judge Scott
Sheriff DdrUn went to Mill City Ia thi'
county, and took custody Of five chill
dren of VIM. Sullivan, an old resident
who has been in unfortunate and desti-
tute circumstances for several years
Mrs. Sullivan died three years ago, and
left the family in the care Of the older
children and father, and The little ones
have not had many advantages or moral
or social restraint. The children put
in the keeping Of the sheriff are Myrtle,
q crippled daughter, aged %, Daisy,
aged l6, and Archie 10, Meta 9, and Al
bert A warrant was sworn out charg-
ing Henry Sullivan, a son aged 20, with
having had immoral relations with one
Of the older girls, and it is claimed that
the girl admitted the facts duplicating
her brother to Supt. Gardner Of the Port
land Boys and Girls aid society, aud
TO District Attorney Hart, and upon the
the representations ofGardnerthe county
court took action.
The five children have been placed in
charge OF Mrs. Morgan, a half sister Of
the mother Of the children, who resides
on Front street. Henry Sullivan was
arrested Friday evening in Clarke
county, Washington, on charge Of
statutory rape and brought to Salem
Saturday night by the sheriff. All the
blackening statements have been pub
lished about the case, and the orders Of
the county court have been enforced to
not allow the father or any friends
90 confer or counsel with the
girls as to the facts in tho
case. No reporters have been
allowed to sec sthe children
or Henry Sullivan. Not even their
father, VIM. Sulliva1, who came down
Saturday, was permitted to ehis daugh-
ters and confer with them alone. The
district attorney today permitted the
father TO see his daughters, but in the
presence OF the sheriff. While the worst
and the blaCkest features of the case
have been thrown broadcast before the
public TO the prejudice Of Henry Sulli-
van and his sisters, there has been no
permission TO get any statements free
from official restraint of the other side
OF the case. II the conviction must be
had by force, as it were, it looks as
though there were some hidden cause
for such proceedings.
The fact that one of the girls has been
seduced by other parties at Mill City, and
iI at a Portland hospital aboutto be con.
fined, and that married men at Mill City
are implicated and advanced money to
send the girl to Portland, and are inter.
ested in securing the conviction Of Henry
Sdllivan, points to conspiracy to make
the boy scapegoat. The boys in the
Sullivan family are hardworking young
men, and have contributed to the support
OF the family since years. Under pres
sure Of Gardner and others the girls may
send their brother 10 the penitentiary,
buh Nlkolouh uelSHhb Will pb uhuo Dy
his attorneys, w. Ii Holmes and Hay
den & Maxwell. II they were promi.
nent people with social innu-
onces no such conditions of demoralz-
action were possible, and there would be
no star chamber proceeding permitted to
secure a conviction upon an one-sided
statement to the public. Mr.. Sullivan
does not object TO sendingh bis minor chill
dren to the Portland Boys and Girls aid
Society or some better place, ana ii would
appear that Mr., Gardner has been un-
duly oflcious in order to get control
Of the children. lie should anGwer the
question, what will be gained to society
by running the reputation Of the poor
rls and sendinga young man to the
penitentiary2 The case will be watched
with absorbing interest at this term
OF court.