“KID” BLINK FINED

MAGISTRATE MOTT DECLINES TO HEAR THE “LEADER’S” EXPLANATIONS

Internal dissensions and doubt have had the inevitable effect upon the striking newsboys, though many of them still asserted yesterday that the fight would be continued. “The Evening Journal” and “The Evening World” were more largely sold by boys in the street yesterday than at any time since the strike began. Those boys who still held out looked unhappy and dissatisfied, and their faith in human nature in general and strike leaders in particular has undoubtedly been shaken. There were few attempts at violence yesterday, as the boys seem to have used up their surplus energy, and the defection of their leaders has been a final straw. “Kid” Blink was fined $5 by Magistrate Mott in Centre-st. police court yesterday. The charge against him was disorderly conduct. Magistrate Mott would no listen to Blink’s explanations.

As the redoubtable Mr. Blink left the courtroom, reflecting upon the vanity of human greatness, he thus apostrophized:

Farewell–a long farewell–to all my greatness!
Dis is de state of man.
To-day he puts fort’ de tends leaves in hope,
To-morrow blossoms;
De nex’ day cums de cop and nips him in der bud.
Mottie, I hadn’t t’ot ter shed a tear, but dis here fine has forced me to play the woman.

The fact that the newsdealers’ associations have taken up the boys’ cause has led a number of them to believe that they will yet win the fight. There is no doubt that if this action had occurred earlier it might have had some effect on the issue. It is doubtful at the present time, with the boys’ ranks badly disorganized, if it will do anything more than prolong the outcome for a few days.

Jacob Cutler, a newsboy, of No. 355 Madison-st., was arrested in Park Row, near the Bridge, about 4 o’clock yesterday afternoon and locked up in the Oak-st. station by Policeman Charles A. Beck, on a charge of interfering with another paper vender.

Source: “‘Kid’ Blink Fined.” New-York Daily Tribune, 29 July 1899, p. 2.