The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-12-25
BEHIND PRISON BARS
Little Baldwin Mathews viii
Spend Christmas.
WILL Go AWAY TUESDAY
He Will Not Have Any Santa
Claus Today.

Little Badly Matthews. as ne is
known among his playmates. viii spend
Christmas behind prison bars.
The day viii be a. cherries one for the
little fellow. He does not know what It
means. Every other Christmas was ore
he looked forward to with the joy and
happiness that means 50 much 10 the tots
on Christmas morn But today he viii
have no stocking flied with candies, nuts
and surprises as other children viii.
Little Badly" whose fuH name Is
Baldwin J. Matthews, is a handsome lit
tie fellow in knee breeches. pointed soc
shoes, a nob6y little pea jacket and dainty
cap which ne wears jauntily on d head
covered with jejt black hair. His eyes
are sparkling and coal black; his features
are those Of a handsome boy. and taken
altogether, there is every reason 10 be-
iieve that the little fellow Of Il years
could be brought up a credit 70 any father
or mother If good Influences were his sur
roundings. Little Badly was sitting in
the corridor Of the county jail yesterday
with MS legs crossed and a pencil in his
hand when an Eagle reporter accosted
him. taking a seat by his side on a long
bench. They soon became fast friends.
When asked his name and age he said:
My name IS Baldwin /. Matthews. / am
II years old and I live in the city
What are you doing here" was asked of
him He said. Il do not know. Mamma
told me l would have TO stay with Mr..
simmons for q day or two but ] have
found out since was put IN here that /
an going to be sent 70 he Reform School
DO not want 10 20 4 y-lsn / could 20
home. I would fbe q good boy. I used 10
20 10 school, the Irving school I got ac-
qIainted with a boy that smoked ard he
got me To smoke one day and ] was sls-
pended from school l do not think am
As bad as some boys. Ny mother did not
want me 10 leave her. Ny uncle and aunt
and mamma always treated NE good and
better than anybody else. Yesterday one
ot the little girls I used 20 knew came
here u Ieave~a package for me and it
obtained two handkerchiefs and some
candy. ] gave some to every one IN the
prison and they tease me by saying / am
going TO he sent 10 a prison where they
Will put big chains and balls on my feet
and make me work. Do you think they
wiu?'' he asked. When told that he would
not De treated that way and perhaps
might not have to go at all. he frightened
I'd and said. Il guess 1 viii not write to
mamma today. She may come and get
me and take me home with her
He said: do you know Mr.. Cubbon@'
meaning Councilman Cubbon. When told
~ the Eagle reporter that he did, Badly
said. Tic cam ero see me, and gave me
- pennies. and said II ! was his little boy
ne would not send ne away. I wish was
his little boy"
Deputy Sheriff Dodds came a,on= while
the reporter was talking with Badly, and
M said there had been lois ot people 10
see the little boy. and all of them said ne
VAS very nice little boy. and never knew
anything bad about him. He said that
Sheriff Simmons ordered that Badly be
made as comfortable as Il jail could make
IL for him lie was given a warm pace 10
sIeep-in the Office of The jail-and viii ne
allowed to occupy the room as long as he
is kept here.
The Eagle reporter called on Judge Hay
maker. who passed judgment on the case
according 20 the law and sworn evidence
Of The mother. He said:
L have made some further investiga-
tons in the little fellows case than that
of the mother. and It seems TO me that the
boy has been refractory in some instances
and the mother can do nothing with him.
The judge did not want ID send him TO
the reform school. but said:
There is no other place provided for
children in cases of this kind. and there Is
nothing left me for 70 do. ] would Ike to
see the state make some kind of provision
fer cases of this kind"
When asked the time the boy would be
sent away 70 associate with the hundreds
school, he answered: Tonight. I think
the sheriff VIII take him" But when pre-
vailed upon TO suspend Judgment in the
little fellows case he went into detail and
explained the facts il the case as they
were proven in court. and finally agreed TO
let the little boy stay here until Tuesday.
TO give The people who were protesting a
chance 10 suggest some way that would re-
ceive his approval and he perfectly salts
factory in the disposition Of the ease. II
any good home can be found Tor the child.
away from the Influences he has been sur
rounded by. the probate court would be
wiling TO listen 90 any responsible person.
and if they viii take the little fellow he
told an Eagle reporter that he would suS-
pend The judgment pending mis- good be- |
havior ia the future