The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1902-06-19
NINE-YEAR-OLD
BOY IN CHAINS
Little Eddie Crample Had Been Tied
Up Like Dog by His Father
Since Last Sunday.

Mrs. W. E. Duggan, agent of the
Associated charities, and mounted Of
ficer Perry, found year old little Ed
die Crample chained in the barn in
the rear of his fathers house on the
East mountain yesterday afternoon.
The little fellow had been chained up
since Sunday afternoon by his father
for stealing twenty-five cents from a
neighbor and was suffering acutely
The case in all it's aspects reveals al
most barbaric cruelty.
Mrs. Duggan was notified early yes
terday afternoon that the hoy had
been chained up since Sunday by his
faher and that his heart-rending cries
to be released had aroused much feel
ing against the latter. She took
Mounted Officer Perry with her and
the two fastened to the place in a cab.
The Cramples live at 11O7 Elm street.
In the rear is a tumble down barn. The
boys mother was at home and treated
the whole affair in matter-of-f fact
sort of way.
The boy is bad one," she said,
'and his father had to chain him up.
I'm glad you've come to take him off
our hands because he's caused us all
kinds of trouble"
The boy was found crouched down in
a dark corner of the barn which was
foul with the smell of animals. Around
his right ankle heavy iron chain was
wound and rivited together. The other
end of the chain, which was between
five and six feet long, was fastened to
large staple driven into the side of
the barn and clinched on the outside.
His hands We're tied behind his back
with thick piece of rope wound around
his wrists several times.
The little fellows eyes were red from
weeping and he smiled an inexpressibly
happy smile when he learned that he
was to be released. When the rope
was taken off his wrist there were deep
indentations to be seen where it had
pressed into the tender fesh The chain
was unloosened from the staple but it
was found impossible to take it off his
ankle
Il took a tin box from a woman near
here he said. PA and she says it had
money in it but it didn't. Pa, he lick
ed me with stick and then chained
me up here. He'd bring some bread and
coffee every day and he'd unite my
hands to let me eat but he'd tie 'em up
again. | asked him to let me out but
he wouldn't"
The little lads arms and back were
covered with big black and blue ridges
showing that he must have been beaten
most numerically. He was taken to
police headquarters with the chain
still fastened to his ankle. Mrs Dug
gan went before Alderman Ruddy and
swore out warrant for the arrest of
the boys father, Michael Crample, who
is employed by the Delaware, Lacka-
wanna & Western company.
He was arrested by Deputy Constable
Hawks and arraigned before Alderman
Ruddy. The boy was brought into the
office with the chains clanking about
him. He had to be forced into testify
ing against his father of whom he
seemed to be in nortal terror Cram
pie is rough looking sort of a man
with constant scowl on his face. He
didn't appear to be in the least moved
by any sense of shame or feeling.
THE boy is no good, and l had to tie
him up to keep him out of mischief"
You'd ought to be ashamed of your
SELF said the alderman. "Ths is the
most terrible case of cruelty that has
been ever brought to my attention. l
hold you under $500 bail for your ap-
pearance at court to answer charges
of assault and battery and cruelty to
Children
Crample wanted a little time to try
and get bail but he was given no
privileges and was hustled up to the
county pail.
The boy had to be taken to black
smith shop to have the chain taken off
his leg. He will be sent to some edu-
cational institution.