Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-12-23
FEARED BAD INFLUENCES
Was Afraid Other Boys Would
Teach Him to Lie.
HAIR ALLOWED TO GROW LONG
Note Thrown to Street Brings Of
hcer to Him-Case to Be
Heard

NEW YORK, December GA dazeC
eieven-year old boy with long. tangled
halr hoating around his shoulders was
taken by the Chldren's Society yesterda,
from his home. where it is alleged, he
had been kept prisoner for two wears h,
MS mother. After being examined in the
chiidren's court he was given into the
care of the society until his case can he
1urther investigated. He was led away
happy in the undisputed possession OF
knlckerbockers he has been allowed to
wear only at long intervals
The boy is Henry de Graaf of 1870 Sd
avenue The society learned of his al
legged imprisonment through note he
threw out of a window. Officer Cos
grave visited the de Graaf home Wednes-
day night and found, he says, that while
the boy was allowed the liberty of the
courtroom apartment, he was not allowed
to go on the street except on the occa-
sion OF rare visits to his grandmother.
when his mother held him tightly by the
hand. Cosgrave says the boy was not al
lowed to go to school or to assOca>
with other children. and had been vir-
tually prisoner SO long that it appeared
his intelligence was affected.
Cosgrave reported that when he wished
threatened to commit suicide. Accord
ingly. when she did not appear in court
there was some apprehension as to why
she was absent.
Mother Gives Reasons.
A reporter visited the de GRAF home
yesterday. The mother, gray-haired
woman Of not unkindly aspect, admitted
she had kept her son locked in, saying
she was afraid If she allowed him to meet
other boys he would be taught to lie
HE would learn wickedness if he went
to school and If let him go out on the
streets he would come In and beat me-
she said.
Mrs. de GRAF exhibited a. small black
board. on which was written in a child's
hand, Dear Santa Claus please bring
me moving picture machine. Henry de
Graaf." Below this was a spicture Of a
that Henry de Graaf sends Santa Claus. "
and another well drawn picture of St
Nicholas in a sleigh. with the title, How
Santa Claus answers the letter.
On the other side of the blackboard
were pictures of various articles, all vel
how he spent his time Mrs. de Graa1
explained. II let him look at pictures
and papers. He had plenty to amuse him.
self with
Played With Dog.
Then there was Snoeksy, tiny dog
that was companion to Henry when his
mother was away, so between the two
diversions the mother said she saw nc
hardship for the boy.
II didn't cut his hair" she explained
because he had sore ears and 1 was
afraid 1t would make him worse. I KEPT
his clothes hidden so he couldn't go out
He went around the house in his under.
wear. When I went out last Thursday a
boy got him some clothes and they stayed
out late. When Henry came back ]
frozen and SO was one of his ears
What did you intend to make of the
boy?' Mrs. de GRAF was asked
Il don't know" she answered; "I was
trying to raise him right so he would be
some good. If get him back will take
him out on the street myself"
Can Nurse the Sick.
Henry's father has been dead nine wears
and he and his mother are supported by
an older son. Henry went to school three
years ago when he and his mother lived
in basement rooms at 1O4th street and
Lexington avenue. The Children's So
ciety got after her because Henry did
NV 81 ~ oCuOOi regularly, Out MIS-. DC
GRAF explained she was sick and needed
Henry at home. HE can take care Of a
sick person and fix something for me to
eat as we'll as any woman can," she said
None Of us knew Henry said little
Margaret Pinkerton, who lives in the
neighborhood, but we used to see him
looking out Of the window at U.S. We
called him the kid with the long hair.
He used to write notes to my brother and
throw them down. The notes would say,
For heavens sake, please get me a pair
of pants My brother Tom, who is ten,
went over twice with pair Of his pants
for him. Tom would whistle to see if
Henry's mother was at home. Finally he
got the pants in to the kid. Henry nut
them on. and because all the doors were
locked he jumped out of window into
the hail.
The case will be heard December 2S