The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1913-01-23
BOY CHAINED BY HIS PAR
ENTS To KEEP HIM HOME
Son OF Garrett County Miner Is Taken
To Aid Society In Baltimore.

From the Baltimore News of Monday
the following horrible tale is taken and
if the happenings reported therein are
true the matter should be thoroughly in
vestigated and the law invoked to
punish the inhuman parents of the
child:
In charge of the Henry Watson
Children's Aid Society today is a 9-year-
old boy, who Secretary George L. Jones
says was chained by the neck and bound
to his fathers house at Kitzmiller,
Garrett county, with heavy irons bear
ing the chain down to make his captivity
secure.
Tommy" Wilson is the name of the
child, and Secretary Jones says he was
held in that position until he finally eff
tected his escape, with the shackles still
pressing tightly about his throat.
The little fellow, showing the marks
of harsh treatment, was brought to this
city and today the Society placed him in
boarding home, where he will undergo
treatment to restore him to good physi-
cal condition before a final disposition of
his case is made
Meanwhile the officers of the Society
are conducting an investigation into the
case that may lead to new developments
within short time and bring to light
some terrible facts of cruelty to children
that are said to exist in some of the
mining sections of Western Maryland.
Little Tommy" was taken to the
office of the Henry Watson Children s
Aid Society yesterday afternoon by
constable of Garrett county, who told
the story of the child's captivity to Mr..
Jones. The boy is one of 10 children,
whose father and older brothers are en-
ployed in the Western Maryland mines.
According to the story told by the
constable, Tommy" had a habit of
running off to the woods to play after
the members of his family started off to
work in the mines. and sometimes he
could not be found when he was wanted.
A few days ago, after one of his trips
into the woods, the boy. it is said, was
seized and heavy chain was fastened
about his throat. Irons were attached
to the chain and Tommy" was tied to
the house.
For two or three hours the little fell
low struggled to work himself free, and
at times gave up in despair and from
exhaustion. only to renew his efforts
later. Finally he was successful to some
extent. He managed to free the chain
from the house, but tear and tug as he
might the steel-linked thing held fast to
his little throat.
The constable told Mr.. Jones that
Tommy dragged himself through the
yard of the house, the irons still clinging
to the chain, and managed to reach
neighbor' S house short distance away.
Still fearing that he might be betrayed
and sent back to captivity once more,
he sought refuge under the building
hoping he would not be discovered. So
great was his fear that the thought of
food did not enter his mnd The little
fellow did not know what was to become
of him. He said anything was better
than being chained to house.
Badly exhausted the boy was found
under the house several hours after
wards, and he was taken by the author
tiles on charge of being a minor with
out proper care. A hearing was con-
Quoted by magistrate in the county
yesterday, but "Tommy's" mother was
not present. His father, a rugged
miner, was present, but according to
the story as related to Mr.. Jones he was
Indifferent as to the future of the boy.
DO what you please with him." the
big miner is said to have told the magis-
trate.
Then the little captive was bundled
aboard train and brought to Baltimore
for the care of the Children's Aid
Society.
1T is one of the oddities of the law
that made the child subject to the
charge before the magistrate, rather
than the persons responsible for his
care and well-being." said Secretary
Jones today, but we are making
thorough investigation into the matter.
1t is terrible to think of the abuse that
little ones are compelled to undergo in
many cases throughout the State. The
boys physical condition is badly run
down now and he will be carefully
looked after in the boarding home until
he RECEIVERS. Then permanent place
will be found for MIN. The boy was
poorly clad and he has had very little
schooling"
Tlarriage License.