New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-11-04
MAY DEPORT BLIND BOY
immigration Officials to Hear
Interesting Case To-day.
THOUGH HOME AWAITS HIM
But Father Cannot Afford to
Educate Child to Prevent His
Being Public Charge.

The board OF special inquiry at Ellis
Island will pass to-day upon one OF the
most interesting cases that has come 10
this country. II has to decide whether OF
not Cecil Morris, blind and seven years
old. will have to go back to Dublin. atter
trip the child made to this country 10
live with his parents in Akron, Ohio.
The little fellow is the son Of Reuben
William Morris, who came 10 this country
two years ago, and is now employed as
rubber dpper al Lawndale, suburb OF
Akron. The boy had poor vision at birth,
and an operation was performed on his
eyes when two years old, but he became
totally blind The elder Morris and his
wife came 10 this country in the hope
OF establishing a home here. but, fearing
that the immigration officials would not
admit their blind child, left him with rcla-
tives in Dublin.
Mr.. Morris, Il is said, communicated
with Ellis Island asking for information
as to how no could bring his blind son to
this country and have him admitted
Soon after this Mrs. Christopher Mac
Sweeney, a relative In GrecnburG, Penn.
was about TO sail for Ireland with her
two children. and Morris asked her TO
bring the boy TO America.
She arrived here YESTERDAY with Tn"
child on the CamerOnia and would have
been permitted to land with her two
young children had she not been the tenn
porary guardian of the blind boy. Her
husband is not an American citizen, al
though he has applied for his first papers,
and she could not avoid detention az the
wife of an American citizen.
AS soon as the Marine Hospital surgeon
examined Cecil Morris yesterday the boy
was ordered TO Ellis Island. His father
and Mrs. MacSweeney's husband were on
the pier to greet the homecomers, but
were unable 70 do anything 10 prevent
| their detention.
The blind boy, recognizing his father
voice, rushed into the arms OF the parent
! he could not see. lie sat upon his idth-
cr's knee and kissed him, and In further
recognition OF the meeting felt with de-
| light the face, shoulders, collar and hat
Of the elder Morris
| The man from Akron was loath to part
company with his boy and was allowed
| to accompany him TO Ellis Island. AS
she had brought him to this country and
would have to answer questions before
the board OF inquiry, Mrs. MacSweeney
also had 10 go 10 the Island, where s"e
! may be detained several days
/ The law does not permit the d"porta-
ltion of an alien under sixteen, except he
be accompanied by parent or some rela-
tive. and unless the blind child's mother
or father agrees 10 so back TO Dublin 1t ls
likely that Mrs. MacSweeney will have to
accompany the child If the board orders
| him deported.
| n the elder Morris can prove to the
board that the child will be educated and
| viii not become public charge, his son
may be admitted 10 the country oil the
| fling OF bond.
| Il has been the aim Of the immigration
Iaw/o keep out OF the country all aliens
likely to enter public institutions. AS the
education OF young Morris in private in
| stitution for the blind would be more than
the parents could afford, It is likely that
his infirmlty will cause his deportation.