Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1896-12-12
PROVO.
The Case of George Barker.

Some time ago 1t was announced
through the columns OF the NEWS
that Mrs. Belle Nelson Of this city had
befriended a little 12.year.old boy, WOO
was found destitute on the streets. and
lhst she was endeavoring TO IND q
home for him. 1t will be remembered
that he gave his name as George
Barker and claimed that his mother
and father who were both Denver peo-
pie were deaf.
Mrs. Nelson had q number OF sppli-
cations from people who sympatbizcd
with the little waif and wanted To take
care OF him. The fret was Mr.. John
A. Lewis, proprietor OF the Excelsior
livery stables OF this city; he took the
boy and furnished him with clothing
and good home and was going to
adopt him. The notice of Georges
arrival In Provo and his destitute con.
oition, however, was copied In the
Denver papers and brought a letter
from Mrs. Hattie Barker OF that city
to Mrs. Nelson. The letter asked for
further information in regard to the
boy, and expressed hopes that he was
to son OF the W i or who had ran
bali ago. The Information sent by
Mrs. Nelson brought Mrs. Barker here
last Tuesday, and when she went to
Mrs. NelsoD's house the boy was it,
vited to visit Mrs. Nelson. When he
arrived he wn8 asked TO go into room,
where Mrs. Barker was, AMI get book
for Mrs. Nelson. When he cav his
mother he exclaimed: "Oi MANN a."
and appeared highly pleased, ana
Mrs. Barker was quite overcome with
joy at seeing the little fellow. They
ieft for Denver on the late train THUR.
day evening. Mrs. Barker 10 the wife
OF the yardmaster OF the Burlington
route in Denver and the boy is their
only child. She told that after he went
away q man came to her who offered 10
tell where the runaway was for $500,
which ihe mother did not have, anu
NO did not receive the information.
There 10 something strange about the
boy. Mr.. Lewis thinK KS there IL some-
thing wrong with his mental mske.up;
he told MIR. Lewis all about his mother
dying and where she was buried, and
how his father used TO take BIN to
visit hsr grave, before his death, ami
gave the correct number OF the house
whore rs family lived In Denvsr.
w nrn Inc letter came from Mr,.
Barker ~ MIS-. Nelson she showed
IL to MIR. Lewis and he read 1t to the
boy, anu asked him why he had said
his parents were dead. The boy TO.
piled, swell, thought they were"
Mr.. Lewis SAID: "Now, George,
don't want you to tell me any ~ ore
storiee, you knew your parents were
not dead" Then George said that
man had told him to say that. Mr..
Lewis wrote to MIS-. Barker and had
George write, although he did not
want to do so and said he did NOT
want to 90 home but wanted to re-
main with Mr.. Lewis. Still when
Mrs. Barker came the boy was
pleased, and wanted to go home with
her. Mr.. Lewis says he 10 a bright,
sIfectionate little fellow, but an awful
story teller and RECALLED MIR. and Mrs.
Lewle with stories OF escspaues
in California, which he ca med
Ia have passed through uuring
his tramp life, and Mr.. Lewis believed
him because the boy was accurate In
his description OF places and condi-
lions In the Golden state. This know.
ledge, 1t WAS learned after Mrs. Barker
arrived, had been obtained on q visit
he had made to California with his
p-len's several years ago.
George has an aunt who lives near
tho Copper plant In Salt Lake, and at
Inc time OF the Coughljn aud George
excitement she learned that he was In
salt Lake City and wrote to Mrs.
barker but when reply came George
had become swallowed up In the
Coughlin affray and was lost sight OF
I'll he Turned up In this city. He went
with the Ulcers up City Creek canyon
And brought como saddle horses back
Tor them, at least that Ia what he tells.
Mrs. Nelson and MIR. LOWS deserve
great praise for their kind ness 10 the
child and are plehsed to think that he
lie restored to his natural protsc.ors.