Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-04-20
THE STORY OF A BAD BOY.
His Daring Scheme to Fleece Rich Wo'
man by Posing AS Her Lost Son.
Isnn Eranclsco Chronicle.l

Little Willie Price, a lad who by his in
corrioible behavior has earned the reputa-
ton of being beyond reclamation, appear
odd before the Police Court yesterday, and
il now AT his old home in the building of
the Boys and Girls Aid Society on Baker
street.
The boy was born in San Francisco IN
1877. At the age of five years he was al
ready well-known character on the
streets. where he was accustomed to appear,
ragged. dirty and shivering with cold,
pleading for aims with face so piteous
and manner so deeply touching that none
could Withstand the appeal.
One day it was discovered that the suave
little beggar was only acting part that
he had more money than many OF ms
charitable contributors. A gentleman
who stood on the corner and watched the
lad for several hours one day figured out
that he must be making between $40 and
SI5 on an average days business as So
licitor of aims. Il was also learned that
the bows father and mother had been Tor a
long time living in idle comfort on the
money which he furnished. After this
there was material falling of in the profits
of Willie's business. His regular contribu;;
tors passed him 10y with cold stare, ana
his rival street-beggars guyed nm so I'M
mercifnlly that he retired from the scene
in deep humiliation.
The year 1884 found the waif under the
care of the Ladies' Protective and Relief
Association, where he was forced 70 take
refuge on account of the cruelty or ms pa
rents. The latter separated soon. after,
and Willie remained in the institution un-
I'll he was taken out by new steptather;
| Once free from restraint, however, the lad
made declaration OK independence ana
refused to be maintained as producer for
his mother and her consort. lie ran away
! and was not heard of until March ., 1880,
when a man representing himself as the
| bows uncle returned him to the Ladies
| Relief Society and asked to have HIM con-
| fined as an incorrigible boy. t1ye Gays
| later he escaped and was not again seen In
| this city until year ago, when IN an IN
guarded moment he ran afoui OF one OF
| Captain Lees men and was placed IN the
| Youths Directory. This institution could
not hold him. He escaped as often as the
spirit moved him, until at last as a nhai
resort he was sent TO Los Angeles %itn .
| clergyman. who promised to and MN q
home on a ranch and make "a good little
l boy" of him.
The young rascal did not take kindly 10
the ranch. He ran away and went 10 the
| City of Angeles, where he gained notoriety
rapidly. 1t was Wilde here that the iao
designed. and. with tho assistance OF
| police officer. executed scaeme OF irauu
which in point of boldness has seldom
| been exeelled.
In 1881 a lad named Willie Dickinson
about the age of tho hero OF this story,
suddenly disappeared from the home on
his parents at Commonwealth, Wis. Inc
heart. broken parents, who. were very
wealthy, advertised far and wide, anu
offered very large amount of money ioi
the discovery and return OF their cnilu
Young Price saw the advertisement, ano
while under arrest on q charge OF street
begging at Los Angeles proposed TO tne
policeman 10 personate the lost Winconslin
lad II the officer wonid do the rest OF tns
business necessary TO gain tho reward To-
his return. The scheme looked plsusipit
and the officer went into it.
A short time after Mrs. Dickinson, ar
rived at Los Angeles TO claim her lorg-iosl
Willie. At sight Of her the young impostor
rushed into her arms. sxclaiming, On
mamma, an so glad you have come .
take your little Willie away from these pac
mep. Kiss your Willie, mamma" and sns
hardened reprobate actually wept. Int
oyerloyed mother covered her supposed
child with kissea. She bought him new
and elegant clothing. loaded him witt
presents, and began hssty preparations fol
their return 70 Wisconsin. !.
The police of1cer, feeling secure IN TN
fn0x&SoHSiOn Of the raurntj u,ouAV 0ouCo1yo<