The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1898-01-19
FRED Upton IS FREE,
YOUNG PRISONER SENT TO HIS
HOME IN TENNESSEE.
His Parents Sent Money to Pay His
Fine, and Solicitor Marlin Raised.
Through Contributions,
Enough to Buy
a Ticket.
Ticket.

Fred Upton, the tifteeu-vear. old
white boy who was tried in the coun.
ty court about month ago for steal
ing coat and sentenced to six months
IN the changing or fine of s25 90,
has been sent to his parents at Els
win, TEN.
As will be remembered by readers
OF HE News, young Upton ran away
from his home with Robinson & Franz
lyn's circus, and was with that show
when it disbanded for the winter at
Eutaula. Not having money or friends
ther boy began to wandering about
the country ,land while walking along
the public road near Sasser one cold
December day he saw negro's coat
hanging on fence and put it on
and went off with it. He was arrests
ed at Sasser and brought to Dawson,
and when arranged tor trial sam ths t
he found the coat by the road side and
as he was thinly clad aud the weather
cold put it on.
He told the court that his home
was at Erwin, Tenn, hut requested
that his parents be not informed of
his disgrace, saying that be would
rather do time in the gang than for
them to know cf his downfall, Judge
Laing, however, did not want to see
bright and intelligent boy ruined
by term in the chaingang, and at-
ter sentencing him ordered that he
be held until his parents could he
communicated with. Solicitor Mar.
lin wrote to them at once about the
situation of their son, and Saturday a
letter was received from them con,
tanning SIS with which to pay his fine
and to help him on his way home
Accompal ing the money was a let
ter each from the boys father and
mother. These letters were very pa.
thetic, especially the one from the
mother, which was as follows;
Fred, My Blessed Boy; Why did you
not write to your papa and mother?
You know we would give everything
we have to get you home. Papa cried
like a child when be heard you were
gone. have prayed to God to bring
you safely home and 10 watch over you
| in mercy. Darling, come home to,moth-
er as soon as you can. When you are with
mother and papa you are safe from all
harm. And, oh, my child, thank Mr..
Marlin for his kindness. How | wish [
could see him and thank him. We got
his letter at 10 o'clock this morning, and
papa has gone to sell the cow if he can );
ii he can't he will mortgage the home,
1--WE only had $500. We know you are
honest, but you have been in bad COM
pany and you are not old enough to
hardly know right. But, darling, pray to
our Heavenly Father and He will
make you good child. Come home and
be guided by your parents, and til
will be your last trouble. Come as
quickly as you can. l drn't feel like
can eat or sleep till you are safely home.
Be very careful and don't get hurt.
Your loving Mother.
Mr.. 1Epton's letter was also very
touching, and he begged his boy to
come home, 90 to school and make a
man. He told him that no one at
home would know anything about his
trouble, not even his brothers and
sisters.
Colonel Marlin solicited contribu-
tions Sunday morning with which to
buy young Upton a ticket home. He
raised about fifteen dollars, and the
boy was put on the noon Central train
Sunday with ticket to his home and
a few dimes in his pocket. Jailer
olade gave him a suit of clothes and