The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1896-11-24
FOR PARENTS TO CONSIDER.
"har II Father Ilns TO Say on tile I'm.
prisonment OF Young Dcggc.
C,dito, or rpLo VIII,
Editor of The Virglnian:

Last Tuesday week two small BOYS
ran away from home, as each of them
hhd done on previous occasion. On
friuay one of them returned home af-
ler peinS away only three days The
olher has not vet returned These
boys We're Willie Degge and Peter Dick
son. Jr., hoyish friends who had tray-
e'ed together as hundreds of bows have
done before
Last tuesday the father OF the miss
'hS boy got out warrant charging
uhg DcSSe with having made away
win ms son. Mind you four days had
eiapseu since the boy returned home
,,,o d neSer word had been received Of
INC iinulnE of body, or anything else
10 indicate that a murder had been
committed. Does it seem probable tina
III the State of Virginia n 14-year-old
poy could make away with his COM
panlon and SO completely conceal the
pouy mat IN that length of time it
woulu not be found? And If this small
boy had committed such horrible
crime can any one with we'll balanced
iiiha DelieVc for an instant that he
would nave dared return to his home
ana pass the time in the same easy man
her rs ne ana before leaving? Can any
unprecedented mind believe that he would
have come back at all?
Neverthelcss. this small boy was ar
rested and brought before the Police
justice on this serious charge and not :
Wi'hstandlng 1t was not even known
nor was there any reason for believing
.hat young Dickson had been killed or
was even dead, this 14-year-old bow
VINO had voluntarily returned to his
nome was committed to Jail for ten
Gays on the mere suspicion" OF hayjnr
committed a murder. Think of If
IatherS and mothers! Think of Your IL
Eear-oid boy being branded as n muir
n fts.r-
ne came pack to home where he was
kindly treated, without bringing his
companion?
can fully appreciate and sympathize
WIN the father who is uneasy about his
LOST boy. 1t Is natural that he should
ne greatly distressed and I am sure
| the whole community will share I'm his
JOY when his hoy is overtaken. as he
surely will be AN
But what can be the sorrow of n
man OF great physical strength ac-
customed to fight the hard battle OF
lie in the open air. over the temno.
airy disappearance of his boy conpared
with the poignant grief of delica t ~
mother. confined to her home. unable
to see her boy, who has been ruthlessIy
branded as murderer?
And that poor boy! Who can calculate
he blighiing effect this horrible charge
! Will have on his future?
| ms 'piiiiiuillcatlon Is not wri6
ten TO attract sympathy, but to appea,
for justice.
| Information from several sources
lead to the belief that young Dickson
mas peen seen in Richmond, Manches.
Ter: Petersburg and Rocky Mount
chief of Police Lipscomb, of Manches.
,ef' does not believe that the boy has
heen fouliy dealt with, but that he ha
s sakcn up with some tramps goinc
oputh' telegram to the Landmark
closes with this statement: "Thia &c
the second time the bog mas run awav
ana his father hopes TO catch him
How long will 1t take to catch him
mat the other boy may be released
VINO, In the meantime lies in a prison
cell branded as murderer, and an in.
oaau no,her suffers the tortures anG
agonies that only mother can?
a FATHER.