The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1913-12-13
Stole to aUe
Git ofEliis
Little Child
FATHER RoBs HOUSES TO GET
MONEY TO PAY FOR OPER-
ALTON ON DAUGHTER.
AMONG. SCORES OF THEFTs HE
INCLUDES MANY TOYS FOR
PARTLY BLIND TOT.

CLEVELAND, Dec. 13.-With the
vision ever before him of the spectre
Of blindness selling his little four
year-old daughter, George Cellinskf,
a laborer, for the last two months
crept into other peoples homes and
stoles to get money to pay for an
operation to save his little girls eye
sight. AT nearly every house he en-
tered he stole toys for the child.
Despite the fact that he was an
amateur, so stealthy were his move
ments that the plundered household
ers never caught sight Of him, but
an end. was put to his night raids
when the police caught his wife at
tempting to pawn some Of the stolen
goods.
Cellincki told his story, how the
doctors had said that an operation
was necessary to save little Eleanor
from going blind, how he had scrimp-
ed and saved from his meager wages
oH,$1.50 per day, but failed to get
enough ahead to pay the doctors and
how @he had yielded to temptation
and stole. He was released on bail
and the Associated Charities is in
vcstigating his case.
oaa. Child Partly Blind, ,r.l
Little, EleanOr..is now blind IN one
eye through an accident she. met
while she was playing in. the street
three months ago. The wound failed
to heal and the doctors say that UNI
less an operation is performed, she
will lose the sight of the other eye.
When police visited the Cellinski
home in Myrtle avenue, they found
a quantity of stolen goods which they
say is part Of the proceeds of more
than 100 burglaries committed in the
East End within the last two months.
A large quantity of toys which the
man had taken for his children were
also found.
Last summer, when the doctor
said that perhaps an operation might
save her sight, swore that would
steal anything could lay my hands
on, sell it, and pay a doctor to keep
my little girl from going blind"
said Cellinski after his release.
when have seen blind men on the
street, l felt my throat get tight, as
though it had bands Of iron around
It, for that was to be may child's
finish unless could get the money.
stole-I know it was bad, but |
was earning only $3.50 day, with
three mouths, a wife and two chill
lren to feed, and another baby COM
ing" 49,.
Never Went Armed.
Il don't mind being cold or hun
cry as far as | am concerned, but I
cannot see my children suffer. |
never entered house which did
not know to be empty so as TO fright
en- women. never carried a gun.
| never touched anything belonging
to another until I saw for myself
the gray, cloudy speckS III MY Illus
girls eye.
when began last summer" and
his voice dropped to "a whisper, II
hoped I'd get caught, so that could
tell the newspapers how was wor-
ried sick. When those fellows were
smothered in the sewer, wanted to
change places with them that my
wife and babies might have some of
the money raised robbed and kept
on, always hoping that | could stop
when had enough stuff to make the
DOCTORS bill for the operation. !
worked alone and did not haye am
pal. Am La bad man or like any
other fatheni whose childlis suffer-
ing?" n, M.