Evening star., 1897-04-13
CHILDREN's GUARDIANS.
They Enter Charge Of a Rather Re.
sm0rlxable Case.

smOrk0Dle case.
Superintendent Herbert W. Lewis and
Agent S. S. Parkman of the board of chill
dren's guardians had before Judge KIM
ball today rather remarkable case.
Richard Roy Shoemaker, aged fifteen, son
OF Joseph A. Shoemaker. living at No S24
9Th street northeast. clerk In the pension
office at a salary of 500 month, and the
recipient of a pension of $12 a month
requested to be handed over to the board
of children's guardians because, IS wit
nesses testified the father Monday last
drove the boy away from home threw his
clothes out of doors, and after forbidding
him to return, threw the boys bed out of
window. fhe rain was falling III torre nts
a. the time. and the boy found a refuge
at the house OF a neighbor frr the night.
After the lads departure M. Shoemaker
had two older children still at home, but
yesterday morning they decided that they
could no longer remain under heir fa her S
roof, and they also accepted the hospi,a lii ;.
OF friends for the time being.
Further testimony showed that The
mother of the three children already re-
ferred to and several others died about
seven or eight years ago. The family at
that time lived IN Ohio. Whe"e Mr. Shoe
makeE in 1889, married second time.
Shortly after this all of the children were
put by Mr.. Shoemaker in orphan asylCms.
where they remained for several jears.
moved to Washington, the former having
secured a clerkship in he pension Office.
Three years ago the three children who
were today in court were brought 10 Wash
ington and taken to the Shoemaker homo.
Since that time the house has, according
to a mass of testimony, been a scene of
almost constant turmoil. The climax came
Monday evening when, while playing. the
boy happened to strike his sister on the
side of the face with a tea towel. At this
moment, so Miss Shoemaker stated. her
father entered the room where she and her
brother were, and said that he would not
permit such conduct and would give the
boy a coed dressing down..
My father tnen." continued Miss Shoe
maker. picked W. stick about the size
of my index finger. and l told my brother
but was apparently SO frightened that he
could not go fast, and my father overlook
him and beat my brother so badly that
was afraid he would be injured.
brother away from home. threw his
clothes and subsequently his bed clothes
after him. telling him never to return
Mrs. Fletcher and several other witnesses
quarreling in the Shoemaker iouse. except
when Mr.. Shoemaker was absent, anO II
gave the boy an excellent character
Judge Kimball called the boy to the
stand and questioned him closely. His re-
plies were apparently satisfactory to the
court. and Judge Kimball asked the boy If
he wanted to be turned over to the board
of chiidren's guardians.
Il guess there is nothing else to be done
for me- said the boy.
Where is this boys father?' asked
Judge Kimball.
Mr.. Parknan and Miss Shoemaker an
swered that he Lad been notified that the
case would come up today but he was OF
present
Judge Kimball directed that the further
bearing Of the case be postponed until the
father could arrive, and directed that he be
sent for. which was at once attended to by
Mr.. Parkman.
Shortly afterward Mr.. Shoemaker reached
the court room and Judge Kimball asked
him why he had not come In response to
the notice previously sent him.
Because l did not get a subpoena" he
replied.
In reply to questions from Judge KimbalI.
Mr.. Shoemaker said: 'You can do iust
what you please with my boy. 1 will admit
that our home Is not as pleasant as IL
might be. and 1 think 1t would be much
better if he never comes back
Mr. Shoemaker said he would like to send
the boy back to the Orphans Home in Ohio
OF which he was formerly an inmate or
have him placed on a school ship at Phil
adeiphia, but Judge Kimball declined to
allow this and said that the boy was now
In the care Of the court and would be given
IN charge of the Board of children's guard
fans. o"