# The Times of San Mateo/1953/Remorseful Dad In 30-mile Hike To Jail

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Peter Robert Whitfield Jr. (1918-1987) in the The Times of San Mateo on June 1, 1953.
Remorseful Dad In 30-mile Hike To Jail
(Times Redwood City Bureau) Redwood City, California; June 1, 1953. Peter R. Whitfield, 34, a San Francisco shipfitter, is trying to figure himself out as he sits in the county jail today. He calls himself a "character," basing his evaluation on antics such as those he performed during the past week end. 10-Hour Hike. He admits he blew $85 on booze and horse races Saturday and then walked 30 miles in 10 hours yesterday to give himself up at county jail for non-support of his wife and three children in San Mateo. Whitfield lives at 419 Thornton street, San Francisco. He and his wife, Doris, separated a year ago but have not been divorced. According to Deputy District Attorney Allison Rouse, Whitfield agreed to pay $50 a week for the support of his wife and children. This figure was reduced to $37.50 month when Whitfield complained he could not meet the payments. $500 Behind. Whitfield told reporters this morning he is about $500 behind in payments. The county, meanwhile, has been paying about $200 a month to the family under the aid to needy children program. He admits that betting on horses is his downfall. "I can't figure it out," he says. "Some days I figure the races out at home and I win as much as $500. But when I go to the track, my horses always lose by a nose. You wouldn't believe it." "It wouldn't be right to say gambling is my trouble. The way I lose, there is no gamble to it." Lost It at Races. Whitfield said he drew an $85 pay check from the Todd shipyards in San Francisco Friday. "I spent about $10 on drinks lost the rest at the races Saturday," he said. "I knew they wanted me in Redwood City for non-support so I started out Sunday morning to walk to Redwood City. I didn't have a penny left." Whitfield said he left his home in San Francisco at 6:30 a.m. arrived in Redwood City at 4:20 p.m. He walked down Bayshore highway to Burlingame and then cut over to the railroad tracks followed the right of way to Redwood City. Told Keep on Walking. "A policeman stopped me in Carlos," he said. He asked me I was doing and I said I was walking. 'Well, keep on walking,' he said." According to Rouse, Whitfield was warned that if he did not up his payments, he would be thrown in jail. A warrant was issued for his arrest by Municipal Court Judge Fred M. Wyckoff. Whitfield said his 30-mile hike "isn't so amazing." "People walk that far every he declared. "They just don't realize it because they don't walk straight line."
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