The Washington herald., 1909-06-06

Police OF the First precinct learned last
night that a twelve-year-old white boy
is being held by Cinnamon in a restaurant
in Pennsylvania avenue northwest
Shortly before 1 o'clock thiE morning de-
tectives were detailed 10 the case. and IT
is probable an arrest viii be made to-day.
According 10 information received by
the police, the detention ef .he boy
amounts to slavery. and it is believed an
investigation win disclose a startling out
rage. No similar case has come 70 the
attention Of the Washington police in
years.
The police learned Of the affair through
the investigation Of J. c. Gray, OF S23
Sixth street, a retired business man Of
this city. Gray learned Of the presence
Of the white boy IN the Chinese establish
ment about a week ago through a friend
who claimed he saw the lad one night last
winter
Did Not Report Case.
Gray did not care to report the case
without first ascertaning If his friend
was right Gray was at one time a pri-
vate detective and set about the inves-
tigation with the ease Of a professional
At intervals Of once TO twice a week he
visited the restaurant until he gained
the acquaintance Of the Cinnamon. and
in this way be was allowed 70 remain
in the establishment after the doors had
been closed for the night. Cray entered
the restaurant about g o'clock last night
and sat at a table until midnight, chatting
with friends. At u O'Clock the restaurant
was closed and Gray was the only white
man in the place.
Suddenly he heard boys talking. and
looking through a curtained door, saw
a Chinese lad Of about ten years talking
with another boy The second lad step
ped from the shadow in a few seconds
and Gray saw he was white. He called
10 the boys and they came 70 him.
What is your name2" asked Gray.
According 10 Cray the boy replied in a
mixture Of English and Chinese which
was almost unintelligible. Gray finally
understood the boy TO say he had no
name and did not know the name Of his
father or mother. Gray says the boy
told him he had been living with the
Cinnamon for a long time.
Il sleep with him." isped the boy,
pointing 20 his celestial companion. and
the Chinese boy grinned amiably. Before
/ Gray could elicit more information from
/ the boy the proprietor Of the restaurant
| came up and spoke in an angry voice 10
/ the lads. The Chinaman used his native
| language. and Gray could not understand
him. but both Of the boys understood
| and scampered out Of sight.
Told Story TO Policeman.
Gray left the restaurant. and found
| Policeman Cox. OF the First precinct
He told the policeman what he had seen
and when Cox realized the seriousness OF
/ the case he accompanied Gray to the
! station. where the story was repeated tC
/ Lieut. Sprinkle
! Sergeant LOhman left In the meantime
To watch the restaurant and see that the
boy was not carried away. the police
/ fearing that the Chinaman. aware OF
the conversation between Gray and Cox
would make an effyt 20 hide him il
some other part of the city until h'
| could be carried away from Washington
Gray. when seen by a reporter for Th'
! Washington Herald, repeated the storI
he told Lieut.. Sprinkle
I do not care 20 gain notoriety b.
this" he said. "but Il becomes necessarl
for some one to take a hand in a cas-
where a white boy is being held a pris
Oner by lot Of Cinnamon. The lad ap
peared TO be well cared for. and Shove,
no signs Of 81 treatment. He is a brigh
little led, although I do not believe h.
has conversed IN English for years Hi
efforts 20 answer me in his Aative Ian
guage were pitiful."
It Is probable the police will make al
arrest before daylight this morning. ant
make an effort 20 obtain possession o
the boy. Efforts viii be made to interes
Judge De Lacy in the case Gray de
clares ne is willing TO appear as a wit
ness against the Cinnamon, and assert
ne win make every effort to see that tn
boys parents are located.