The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1904-11-03
BABE AROUSES
SELF RESPECT
Tom King, Jail Habitue, is In
Spired to Seek R eform.
SEES SPIRIT OF MAGDALENE
TO KEEP FROM LOSING CHILD
HE NAILS HER IN BOX.

His devotion for Mary MadgaIene
the 5-months-oid baby daughter of Mrs.
Mary Cunha, has wrought changes in
The dissipated life Of tom" King. who
has been a constant .'trusty" inmate at
the city Jail for the last twenty years.
His love and admiration for the child
is the source Of his happiness and the
influence which has led him TO seek
TO live a better life In this child he
sees the reincarnated spirit OF Mary
Alagdalene and IL respect to The almost
Worshipful attention which he has paid
toward the child her parents allowed
MIN 10 choose the baby's name.
During his absence from the city Jail
Tor the past month he has been a con-
slant visitor at the home of Mrs. Cunha
and the child has marked d period Of
reformation in his life Tom Kings
cell in the city Jail has been vacant
Tor nearly a month and his absence
has been the cause OF considerable com
ment among the officers He has a
longing for the old city hall and its
surroundings. but several times he has
called there and told the officers ne
would never go back again.
Proposes Name of Mary Magda-
Iene.'
The Cunha family live back Of the
city jail off State street. While Tom
was at work in the yard a couple of
months ago he saw the mother with
the child in her arms. The child bore
an inspiration to his soul and ne made
her acquaintance that day While he
was serving his term Of thirty days
for drunkenness he took advantage Of
his privileges as a "trusty' 10 90 to
the house, hold the child on his lap and
play with her. 1t was during this time
that he proposed the name of Mary
Magdalene. After the child was christ
ened he has spent most of his time
with the little one. AS soon as his term
was served he rented a couple of rooms
in the upstairs apartments Of the
Cunha residence. where he could be
with the baby. For a period Of three
weeks King did not take drink and
time and again he brought delicacies to
the child for it's mother 10 feed il.
Nails Baby in a Box.
Tom King was a changed man while
ne lived with this child. but yesterday
he was brought back TO the city jail
crazed with drink, when he was told
That the child was to be taken back
10 Italy by her father The thought
of her being taken away from him
was too much and he commenced to
drown his sorrows in drink After re-
turning to his room he saw the baby
lying on the floor rolling about. and he
was seized with the mania TO carry the
child away. While the mother was at
work in the front part Of the house he
took the baby 10 his room and i'm his
drunken frenzy placed the child i'm
large box i'm his room and nailed down
the cover. He left an opening for plenty
of air and light and went out and left
her. The mother soon missed the child
and was afraid il had been carried
off. Half an hour later she heard the
child'S screams and soon located her in
Toms room
With the idea that the child was sa fe
from all harm Tom went down town
and. after obtaining a small amount of
money started To drink and soon had
q fighting jag" on. He was arrested
and landed i'm the Jail. but last night
when he became sober his first
thoughts were for the, child. and he
siterWard told the story to Officer Burt
SeaSer. Tom asked 10 be allowed TO
see the child last night but il was re-
fused him and he longs for today. when
he viii be let out TO do his work. so
that he can visit the baby who so
stirred the good within his soul.