The herald., 1896-08-30
An Old Soldier Worried About
His Little Son
CAN'T GET TRACK OF HIM
The Boy Was Placed In a Local Orp han
Asylum
But Now the whereabouts Of the Youngster
Can Not Be Ascertained-Too
1uch CircumI ocution

of the Soldiers Home, is anxious to learn
what has become of his little boy.
When the father went to the home
provided by the government for the ma
tions defenders the son was placed in
an orphan asylum in this city. From
that institution the youngster was
'farmed out" and the father lost all
trace of him, although repeated efforts
have been made to discover the lads
whereabouts.
Bailiff Appel Of the police court knew
Bold in Arizona, and has been appealed
to to assist in finding the old soldiers
sequestered son, as the following letter
indicates:
HOSPITAL SOLDIERS HOME.
Los Angeles county, Cal,
August 2S, 1896.
Nazario Appel, Esq, care chief of po-
lice, Los Angeles, Cal: My Dear Sir
and Old Friend-This letter is written
at the request or Mr.. James Bold,
carpenter, who says that he knows you
very we'll and worked with you at BIS
bee or neighborhood of Wilcox, when
you were in charge of Tully & Ochoa's
business there. This man Bold Is now
totally blind and crippled with rheuma-
tism in this hospital, and begs of you,
for the sake of humanity, to help him
in his present trouble, which is as fol-
lows:
About three months ago. when Mr..
Bold was admitted here, he left his son.
a fine boy of about 13 years of age, III
charge of the orphans home, corner
of Yale and Alpine streets, Los Angeles.
About month ago Mr.. Bold sent man
there with a message and some money
for the boy. The man was unable TO
deliver either the message or the mon
ey, because the boy was no longer there.
at least, so he was informed by the peo-
pie in charge. as l presume, the matron.
| have since written to tho matron for
Mr.. Bold, making inquiry as to the where
abouts of the boy. whom 1t would APP
pear they had put with a family in the
country. Although 1 enclosed a stamp
for an answer, have been unable even
to get an answer from that institution,
which I lately understood seems to be
carried on in a very loose manner. Mr.
Bold is very worthy man, and the boy,
whom I know personally very well, is a
fine boy, we'll worth looking after. His
father is very anxious about this matter
and begs you will kindly ascertain
where the boy Is placed and if possible
how he is treated. Mr. Bold will cheer
fully pay all expenses you may incur in
the matter and begs you will have the
kindness to give the matter your speedy
attention. The boys name is John
Bold. With my best regards, your old
friend, JOHN A. SPRING.
Mr.. Appel also knew Mr.. Spring in
Arizona and pronounces him an exem-
plary man and soldier. When he re-
ceived the letter above quoted he sent
a friend to the Orphans home to inves-
tigate.
Miss Moss, the matron Of the institu-
ton, stated that home had been found
for Johnny Bold in the country, but she
could not remember the place and did
not have access to the records. She ac-
knowledged having received a call from
a man who said he was the bearer of
money and message for the boy, but
did not offer to leave the money on be-
Ing told that the boy had left the insti-
tuition. She had received a letter from
Mr. Spring with stamp enclosed, but
did not reply because she could not give
the desired information. She deferred
action in the matter until Mrs. Stevens,
president of the home, should return
from Long Beach. Mrs. Stevens re-
mained al the beach six weeks instead
of one week, as expected, and only re-
turned few days ago. The interviewer
was referred to Mrs. Stevens for further
information.
Mrs. Stevens. when seen at her home
at Olive and Sixth streets, stated
that she did not recollect where the
Bold boy was placed, and could not tell
without referring to the books, whicn
were in the possession of the secretary,
Mrs Teale. Mrs. Teale was called up
by telephone, and replied that She, too.
could not tell offhand where Johnny
Bold was living, but the records would
tell. The books, however, were at the
asylum, and she would not reach there
before 10 q. m. Sunday If the inter-
viewer would call at that hour the de-
sired information would be forthcom-
ing.
Miss Moss and Mrs. Stevens were sure
that the boy was in safe hands and was
in good home. Mrs. Stevens said the
youth was taken into the asylum under
protest, as he was past the age under
which children We're admitted An ey-
ception was made in his case owing to
his fathers helpless condition. 1t is
customary to place children in private
homes when good ones can be found,
and at the first opportunity Johnny was
sent to the country
Miss Moss apologized for not having
answered Mr. Springs letter, and Mrs
Stevens excused the negligence on the
ground that the matron was so busy
that she could scarcely find time to at
tend to correspondence. Mrs. Stevens
would see to it. though that matters of
this kind would receive prompt atten-
| ton in the future.
There is no complaint from any quar-
ter that the institution is rot well man
aged and the inmates well cared for.
| Everything looks neat and clean about
/ the place and the children all appear to
| be happy. The managers invite the
! closest inspection. General regret was
expressed that Mr.. Bold was so long de-
prived of information about his son, AMI
he WILL no doubt. be placed in communi-
| cation with the lad as soon as the cir
n ha Noh 1teI,.,