Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-11-30
A BOY WITH A RECORD
Is Claimed by Two Women, Each Con-
ident he Is Her Child.
THE LAD RAN OFF FROM HEFARM.
A southern Wifes Unpleasant Experiences
in Pittsburg.
THE STRANGE STORY OF A PRETTY wAIF


that she had found in Charley Raft, the IA
year-old lad who was picked up by the
police on Southside street Monday, her
long lost boy. Young Raft was taken care
of by the police and then turned over to the
Anti-Cruelty Society. Secretary N. E.
Dorente succeeded in obtaining home for
the boy.
The Secretary was deeply touched by the
story the boy told. He elaine ed to have
worked during summer and up to short
time ago for Frederick Jay, farmer in
Murraysville. He said that he had never
secured cent for his services until he was
told Few days ago that he was no longer
wanted. when he was given dollar. He
was thus turned out in the world without
money, clothes, friends or parents.
Shortly after Raft departed for his new
home yesterday afternoon a woman came to
the Office of the society and requested to be
permitted to see the boy, as she thought it
was her son.
A Woman's Sorrowful Story.
She said that she was now married and in
very good circumstances, but scout IL
years ago her first husband died, leaving
her with an infant boy without any means
of living It was impossible for her to 60
out to work with an infant in her charge,
so she put the little boy into the Home for
Friendless, and managed by dint of hard
labor to earn enough to keep herself and
pay board for her infant son. Hard work,
in little over year, put her on sick
bed. For six weeks she lay near death. As
soon as she recovered she hastened to the
home, to find that during her illness the
light of her life had been taken
out of the home and adopted. They refused
to give her any information, and from
that time on she has heard nothing of her
son, with the exception OF being sent
photograph of him when he was years
old. When she read of young Raft she was
sure shat it was her son, and Secretary
Dorente, after listening to her story, told
her to come around to-day and she would be
permitted to see the boy.
The woman had hardly left the office be-
fore another searching mother came in and
said she was positive young Raft was her
boy. She said her name was Mrs. William
Allen and the boy who said his name was
Raft was her son Charley. During May
Charley Allen was picked up by the Allie
gheny police. He claimed to have been
care of the Anti Cruelty Society, who
placed him in the Newsboys' Home. His
father on reading of his sons escapade
hastened to the Newsboys' Home, but the
boy had meanwhile escaped, and that was
the last heard of him.
Mr. Allen is a well-to-do farmer of Glen
field, and his wife, upon reading of Raft,
took the first train to the city, but arrived
too late to see him. Secretary Dorente is
positive that the boy is Charley Allen, as
he now recalls the likeness to the boy he
had last May. Mrs. Allen wanted to take
Charley home with her last night, and wept
very bitterly when told that would be i'm
possible.
A Wife's Long Chase.
A pitiful tale of deserted wife was told
to Secretary Dorente yesterday by Minnie
johnson, who after being left with young
child to support in Missouri, followed her
taithiess husband to Pittsburg, only to he
thrown again on the world. She said: my
husband, James F. johnson, moved from
Pittsburg with his father some ten years
ago to California. Shortly afterward they
took up their home in Dent county, Mis-
souri,, where met and married my hus-
band The father died shortly after our
marriage, leaving considerable estate, of
which my husband was made administrator.
We were very well fixed as long as this
money lasted and lived very comfortably.
It was about this time 1 happened
to come into possession of this little
girl 1 have with me- A party
of hunters passing through forest near
our home came across little babe hid
among the bushes in one of the most desc
late portions of the woods. The hunters
took the little founding, and wrapping 1t
in their coats, conveyed it to the cottage of
q woman near the edge of the wood. 1
heard of the incident and realizing that the
woman who had received the child was in
no position to care for it properly, being
poor and having seven children of her own,
I took the child myself At that time we
were in position able to care for the little
one; now 1 have to come to you for aid.
Her Husband Left Without Warning.
s.My husband had studied for the minis
try, but know he has not been in church
since we were married. In the middle of
August he left me in Missouri without a
word of warning or any clue as to where
he was going. grieved for several weeks,
and finally, after selling everything had
LETT in the world, started for Pittburg,
where had been informed by a letter he
had gone. The journey here was very tire
some and meeting with considerable wreck
I was completely broken up, having been
ill for some time before 1 started. arrived
in Pittsburg at 10 o'clock at night with my
little one. No one met me, and 1 can tell
you the feeling of being alone in strange
city is not pleasant. 1 managed to get to
nv brother-in-law' house by frequent in
quiries, where I found my husband, who
gave as an excuse for not meeting me in
response to my telegram, that the wreck
had delayed the train so that he didn't wait.
81 had when 1 arrived in Pittsburg as
the proceeds of the sale of the goods draft
Tor 5000 and about $50 in cash. With this
we were able to provide for ourselves.
From the very night 1 arrived he began
fussing and fighting with me- On Sunday
after 1 arrived, when they were all at
church, he pulled revolver on me. His
brother when told him Of this, informed
him that he would have no such actions in
his house, and he'd have to get out and find
work.
Left Without a Cent.
"Seeing matters going from bad to worse,
and our money gradually getting less and
less, L resolved to arrange matters SO that 1
could work for myself 1 took the little
boy and proceeded to the Home for Friend
less and afterward to the Ridge Avenue
Orphan Asylum. At both places they re-
fused to take the child. While L was on
this mission nv husband broke into my
trunk, and took all the money L had lett
out OF the $3.50 1 brought with me. 1 never
saw any more OF the money until he gave
me some to buy him underwear bought
the things he wanted and also some food.
When got home he beat me horribly, and
then lett me without cent in the world. |
NY husbands brother has been exceedingly |
kind to me, approaching my position, but !
he is not situated so that he can aid me,
/ L