The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-01-14
A STRANGE CASE.

Where Are the Charities IA Boy to Be
Returned to San Quentin.
Little Johnnie Jones, the fourteen year
old boy whom Visalia Judge sent to the
States Prison to serve two years term for
burglary, Is now the object of no little at
tention on Warden McComb's part, by real
son OF the strange predicament in which the
boy is placed.
The little fellow has nothing vicious in
his appearance, and his version of his mis-
fortune bears all the impress of truth.
Briefly it is that lie ran away from his home
in Missouri and after many adventures
turned up in Visalia. There, one night he
entered store for shelter. and finding a case
of knives he took two of them and pair of
shears. They looked so nice and | could
not keep away from them" is the only excuse
he has ever offered for his crime, if crime it
was. lie was taken red-handed, as il were,
convicted and sternly committed for term
of years TO the penilentiary. There, owing
10 his youth and the entire absence of
vlciousness that he displayed the officials
from the first took deep interest in him
and finally laid his case before Governor
Waterman, who granted him pardon cou-
ditional upon his being returned to his
parents or home provided for him else
where. On the 18th of December he was
turned over to the Boys and Girls Aid So
ciety, with whom he has ever since been,
Dub III consequence Ol UblUB uudDlo 10 lltlu
his parents or to obtain a home for him
they are now about to return him to the
penitentary.
In view of this Warden McComb prepared
the following report for presentation to the
Prison Directors next Saturday:
a boy OF the tender age of IA years was con-
dltlonally pardoned by Governor Waterman on
the 18Th OF December, and the child was de-
liveied TO the Superintendent OF the Boys and
Girls AID Society, 10 be restored 10 his parents
or TO be provided with home where he would
be properly cared for In the event OF inability
10 ma MS parents or TO place him IN home. or
IN case The child should rove intractable, then
The pardon is To be considered null and VOID, and
The sentence Of The court is TO be enforced by re-
turning the lad to the STATE Prison To serve the
remainder OF the term of two years. | have
written Twice 10 the ehlld's mother without get
ing any response, and hnally wrote and tele-
graphed to the Postmaster OF the Missouri village
10 learn II my letter had been delivered, and re-
celVeu information that the letters were not called
LOT, as Tie family nave removed to Oklahoma.
klhd-hearted citizen In the southern part of the
Stale, to whom | had written for veIhcatiOn of
tne lads story OF his efforts to make an honest
living Tor himself, earnestly desired ME 10 have
the boy released from the State Prison, but he is
not prepared 10 receive him at his home, because
lie has boys OF his own of about the same age,
and asks HE If reform schools are not Intended
for such enc geDcies. The Superintendent OF
the Boys and Girls Aid Society has notified me
To send for the boy TO lake him back to prison.
and have begged him to retain the child until
his parents can be heard from. The Superin-
tendent has retained him four weeks with
out results. and unless some Dhilauthropist or
some child saving institution comes To the res
cue the infant VIII he returned 10 Stale Prison at
the end OF the present week.
He Is bIight-lookiug lad. with good face aud
good head, put lacking In education. He does
not appear 10 be vicious, and has none of the
tough" characteristics Of the city wail-appar-
emily sslmple country lad who has run away
from the home where he was neglected or not
JONI MCCoMB, Warden.