The Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1???-1928, 1912-06-02
Michael Larkin, s Years Old, Ar.
rested, While On St. Louis
Bridge
ACCOMPANIED BLIND FATHER
Brother Of Boys Father Said to be
Prosperous Farmer Near
This City

According to an article in the st.
Louis Post-Dispatch, Michael Lark
in, an eight-year-old boy of Cairo, is
held in Jail there, being arrested
while accompanying his blind faith
'er on begging trip. The article
follows:
i "The sound of a sweet young
voice singing "The Ragtime Violin"
floated through the windows of Gen.
trail District Station, Friday, caus-
ing many on their way to work to
stop and wonder.
THE singer was Michael Larkin,
8 years old, d blue-eyed boy, who
had been taken in custody by the
police at the request of Probation
Officer Fullerton of the Juvenile
court. He was stopped by Patrol
man Lambert at the west approach
of the Eads Bridge while in COM
pany with a blind man for whom
he said he had been singing foi
several weeks. They were about to
start for Belleville.
THE boy told the police that he
and his father, John Larkin,, came
to st. Louis from their home in
Cairo, H., about month ago, and
have been living at 800 Market
street. He said that his singing
kenabled the blind man to collect
from Sc to $40 day, and that this
money was divided by the blind man
and his father.
Wins Presents from Policemen.
when he was taken to Police
Headquarters the boy volunteered tc
sing for Sergt. Alexander. After
the first few bars of his song police,
linen came fiocking from other parts
! of the building to listen, They gave
the boy nickels and chewing gum,
He was sent to the Juvenile court
! detention room to be held for the
Juvenile court.
Michael wore new straw ha
| and a neat Buster Brown suit HI
! said that his clothes, board ant
lodging were all that he received
for his singing
| 'The father also was taken to 20
lice headquarters and cited to ap
pear in court. He said that he wa
| poor man and didn't know it wa
wrong to send his boy out with tn
blind man instead of putting him t.
Eschool The police did not detail
! the blind man or learn his name.
| Fullerton received an anony
nous letter, May IA, saying tha
there were three neglected childreI
at 800. Market street and that on
of them was sent out every day b
his father as singer for a blind man
Other Children Cared For.
| Fullerton went to the Marke
| street house and found Larkin wit
khis smaller children. John. 6 year
old, Louise, A. Through the Juve
nile court the boy was sent to s.
iJoseph's and the girl to st. Mary
asylum. The police were instruct
| ed to look for the older boy.
! "Larkin says he has been unabl
to find work in st, louis. He tol
sthe police he had brother, Charlie,
who is a prosperous farmer nea
Cairo. An effort will be made t
induce this brother to care for tn
children.
I "After Judge Rassieur in tn
sJuvenile court had ordered the bo
staken to st. Joseph's Orphan Hom
detectives gave a nickel shower fc
him at police headquarters. He san
Lseveral songs ana when he Ii
through he was So richer. Chic
tAllender was one of the contribl
ttors. He wore badge advertisin
a brewery and when Chief Allendt
offered to buy it he said he woul
[give it away, but that it was nj
| for gallo -