New-York tribune., 1910-07-23
BOY CHAINED TO WASHTB
Parents Used This Method to
Keep Him Off the Streets.
STARVED FOR DAYS, He SAYS
Opportune Arrival of Children's
Society Agent Discloses
Pitiful Plight.

Rosario Nichitto, a ten-year-oid boy. wa.
found yesterday by William Leggett, an
agent of the Society for the Prevention NJ
Cruelty to Children chained TO the wash
tub in his home at No. % Stanton strsa-
The chain was SIX feet long. and was fast
ened to the tubs by a huge brass paddock
The boy was badly bruised on his bach
and shoulders, the result, It is said. Of
heating which his father had given hf,
For three days and three nights ne hss
been thus chained with nothing whateye-
to eat for the last two days The boy said
he had been put there to prevent his wan
dering about the street
The opportune arrival OF Leggett was dus
to the fact that the boy had been paroled
in the care of his parents on May o, and
II is one OF the duties Of the agent to keen
a watch on Rosario.
When Leggett called at the boys homs
Yesterday he saw Mrs. Denonata Nichitto.
the mother of the boy.
where is Rosario?'' asked Leggett
Here he is Leggett says she answered.
as she pulled in heavy chain that was
fastened to the washtuhs IN the kitchen
At the other end of the chain was Rosario
The chain was securely padIocked 10 MS
ankle
Leggett took the boy TO the Children's
Court, sbefore Justice Wyatt The records
of the boys case show that on May 10 ha
was arrested at Third avenue and Eth
street, being found IN a doorway fast
asleep at a. m. He told heartrending
story Of cruelty by his parents when ar
raigned before Justice Hoyt and was ra
manded to the care of the ChiIdren's so-
ciety. On a further hearing, on May 2.
the boys father declared that his son was
not telling the truth, and Rosario was
paroled In the care OF his parents
Boy Tells Heartrending Story. =
The boy told pitifuI story in the Chil-
drens Court to Justice wyatt yesterday.
He said that his father and mother were
in the habit OF fastening him by chain
sometimes to chair and sometimes TO the
tubs.
Justice Wyatt asked the boy whether hs
had had anything to eat and how long hs
had been chained UP.
My father chained me up three DAYS
ago. answered the youngster. who is short
and thick set II did not have anything tn
eat In that time except a crust or two tina.
my mother threw at me-.
Where did you sleep?'' asked the justice.
Under the washtubs, where the Officer
found me-"
Further questioning brought out that he
had been chained up on another occasion
for period OF three weeks. during which
time he had occasional crust OF bread.
given him by his mother
My father never gives me anything To
eat" said the boy, but he used TO Hex ne
with some telegraph wire
The wire, the six-foot chain and paddock
were all produced in the court by Mr..
Leggett.
The boy has two younger sisters, Angelina
and Concetta, and he said that Concetta
was also chained up at one time because
she played in the street
Leggett said that the boys mother
seemed 70 be glad to let him go In his care
Rosario attends Public School %. at Riv-
fngton and Forsyth streets. His record
found in his pocket. shows that he is good
in department and his studies, but his al
tendance has been poor.
Justice Wyatt remanded the boy 10 the
Children's Society until tomorrow. when
his parents will be summoned TO court
The fathers name is Pietro. He is said
to be blacksmith.
Father Has Different Version.
Mr.. Nichitto. when asked last night I.
his son had been tied. down to the tub for
three days and nights. without food, sail
NO; my boy ran away and was gone for
twelve days. getting back on Wednesday
We tied him up that afternoon, and at
bedtime put him TO bed. and in the morning
we tied him up again. as Mrs Nfchftto and
both had 10 go to work and there was no
one to look after him He had all the food
he wanted to eat"
When asked about the severe punishment
he was said to have given the boy. he said:
Must not man punish his own boy when
he is bad? / used only an ordinary strap,
and he ran away all the time"
In speaking OF what he wanted 70 Dc
with the boy he said, II want my boy
back. but if III will make him any better
would be glad if they would keep him in a
detention house of some kind for six
months or even year"
Mrs Nichitto seemed very much worried
over the whole affair. and the neighbors
said the boy. Rosario. had been a constant
worry 10 his mother for the last three
years since he began his running away.