The sun., 1906-12-08
BLIND BILLY IS In HARD LUCK.
NO ONE NOW TO HELP HIM SELL
HIS DAILY PAPERS.
Police swoop Down on His stand and Cart
Away the Two Little Girls Who Had
Long Looked Out for the Business -
Fears He VIII Have TO Go to PoerhOuse.

Fears He VIII Have TO Go to POorhOuse.
Blind Billy was sad of heart last night.
In the many years he has kept the little
news stand at Mulberry and Bleecker streets.
right in the shadow OF Police Headquarters,
he has heard the Changing Of the patrol
wagon bells until the sound is to-day the
most familiar thing that strikes Billy's
ears. Year in and year out he has heard
the patrol wagons go by.
But when the Mercer street police station
patrol came to a stop right near Billy's
stand last night something told the blind
news vender that trouble was at hand.
He couldn't explain the feeling that came
over him; he Just knew that something was
going to happen.
Two bluecoats sprang out Of the patrol
bluecoats who have known Billy for nigh
on to ten years-and although they hated
TO do it they went up and told him he was
violating the law in having girls under 10
years Of age working for him. They told
Billy they wouldn't arrest him, but they
would have to take Annie Fagin, 10 years
old, who has been his assistant for the past
two years, and her sister Tina, IL years,
who helps during the evening rush hours
Some citizen had complained TO the police
that the two girls who helped Billy TO make
a living were under age and that 1t must
be- stopped. The police had no alterna-
tive they had to stop it.
Annie, whom all the officials and attaches
at Police Headquarters call Merry Nom
Kippur, thought the police were playing
a joke on Billy, but she and Lena soon
learned that the officers were in dead earn
est. Yom Kip and Lena had to go to tn Q
station house.
Billy pleaded that he be arrested instead
of the girls, but the police wouldn't hear
Of 1.-THE children were the real offenders.
And of the wagon rolled with the tiny
prisoners leaving the sightless Bill sad
and alone. As best he could he locked
the stand for the night and slowly picked
his way through the street to his home, at
s?i Bowery. The little girls after being
arraigned in the Mercer street station
we're sent to the rooms of the Children's
society for the night. and to-day will be
arraigned before Justice Olmstec in the
Children's Court.
Blind Billy was having streak Of hard
luck when Merry Yom Kippur came into
his life. Twice his stand was burned down
by mischievous lads in the neighborhood,
and il took all his savings to build new
ones. Inscriptions persons, taking ad-
vantage of the plight of the sightless
money on the stand and Billy often found
his stock depleted and no money 10 pay
for the next days wares. The youngsters,
too, lurked near the stand and when change
was deposited by patrons they would
snatch it up and run of.
Kippur was on her way home from school,
when she saw three boys steal money
from the stand. The little girls heart was
touched. She knew Blind Billy was power
less to prevent such things, and she walked
up boldly and offered to help him. From
that day on Yom's face had protruded
from the window of the stand, and thou
sands are familiar with her cry Uxtree,
uxtree! Blind Billy keeps this stand. and
this stand helps to keep Blind Billy
With Yom on the job Billy prospered.
There were no more thefts and no un-
scrupulous patron could go of without
paying for his or her paper. And soon Billy
was able to pay Merry Yom stipend. The
Fagins are poor, and the 81 a week which
Billy has been able to pay has helped the
Fagins. The father is sckly and unable
10 work most Of the time so very often Yom
Ia the mainstay OF the household. For
weeks at a time they have lived in the tene-
ment at "a East Tenth street on YOm's
earnings and tips alone. The father has
been sick since cold weather set in, but
Y ON has kept the wolf from the door
She and her sisters attend the Houston
street school and early every morning
and in the afternoon and evening Yom
was at the stand crying her wares
Blind Blly-Highley is his last name-is
an old circus performer and for many years
travelled with the G. +. Bailey and the
Barnum Il Bailey shows. At one time he
was the best clown in the circus world
He was stricken blind about twelve years
ago. He has supported his aged mother
despite his affection, and last night had
saved up 500 with which he planned TO
buy her fine Christ mas present
While Billy Ii not inclined to be pessimistic,
be said last night he fears that he and
his mother will wind up in the poorhouse
If the authorities take Merry Yom Kippur
away from him.