Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1911-06-05
OvERWORK CAUSE
OF BOYS HANGING
SELF IN CELLAR
Three Jobs Too Heavy Load
for l4.yearsold Charlie
Christian. 4
AUNT ANGRILY DENIES
TALES OF HARSH USAGE
Drug Store, Then Dishes, Wind.
ing Up Day as
"Newsie."

-year-old Charlie Christian.
who hanged himself in the cellar of
his aunts home, 253 Fairmount ave.
nue.. where he lived. yesterday, left no
note explaining his act, no diary sum-
mary of boyish troubles. which war
ranted in his eyes so desperate a rem
edy. yet the neighbors had their idea,
and unless their combined diagnosis of
the case was wrong it was a tragedy of
childhood such as Dickens was wont to
paint that he might mock the snug
ness of sheltered hearth stones
1t is an old ia shioned story, one that
is not heard much nowadays, since the
light was turned on oppressors of boys
and girls, and societies for the preven-
ton of cruelty to children were formed
and Juvenile courts we're established.
1t was not pretty when it was told
first, and 1t is uglier now.
Charlie Christians mother died when
he was years old, and his father dis
appeared. Three years ago his aunt,
Mrs Charles Wilson, took him from
home for friendless children. The
climax of those. last three years In the
boys life was death by his own hand.
He did not return to the Fairmount
avenue house Saturday evening, and
Sunday morning a tenant in the build
ing found the lads body hanging by
rope, which had been tied about the
neck from a steam pipe attached to the
ceiling of the cellar
WAS Kept Busy.
During the three years he spent with
his aunt Charlie was always a very
busy boy. Usually he had regular en-
ployment, then there was a great deal
of work to be done about the house in
his odd moments, and he topped the
day off by selling newspapers for a
certain period each evening after
supper.
Charlie was employed in succession
at each of the three Staehle drug
stores on South Orange avenue. The
manager of the store at South Orange
avenue and Bergen street had taken
an interest in the boy and learned
something of his story. This man said
today that the arrangement under
which the boy worked there was an
unusual one. In the morning he worked
until IL o'clock and then went home to
do housework. He returned to the drug
store at o'clock In the afternoon and
worked until s o'clock In the evening
he stationed himself on a certain cor
ner and sold papers.
In the drug store they grew indig-
nant. as they believed Charlie was
overworked, and they were constantly
hearing ugly stores of the treatment
he was accorded. He was beaten for
trivial offenses, according to these
stories, and was permitted to keep
none of the money he earned. At one
time, according to the manager, a
number of the neighbors of the Will
sons discussed the advisability of get
ting up a petition to submit to the
proper authorities in behalf of the boy.
This petition was to have recited what
the neighbors believed they knew of
the treatment the boy received. AS
the result of this treatment they said
he was lifeless and morose and seldom
joined other children in their sports.
Ncighbor Reports Punishment,
According to one neighbor, Charlie
was severely punished for some real or
fancied disobedience Friday night. He
obtained permission to leave the house
Saturday afternoon about 8 o'clock and
was not seen again by his aunt until
his body was found in the cellar. Sew
eral who knew him. however, saw the
pathetic little figure at the accustomed
corner Saturday night. The boy was
endeavoring to sell his evenings quota
of papers.
These stories are lies" exclaimed
Mrs Wilson today. IL never punished
the boy. He had good home here.
When I thought it was necessary I
corrected him as a mother should. 1
tried to be a second mother to him. 1
can't imagine why he killed himself"
1t is not known at just what time
Charlie decided the conditions of life
were too hard for him and that death
was preferable to existence in his
aunt's home. No one knows when he
crept into the cellar, twisted the moose
about his neck and entered the only
avenue of escape from his troubles
which seemed open to him, but he had
been dead for hours when his body was
found Sunday morning.