The evening times., 1899-05-03
RuNAwAYs BROUGHT BACK.
Children Leave Home on Account of
llI-Treatme

Ill-Treatment.
Two little children, Daisy and Johnnie
Rock. aged respectively thirteen and mint
years. but who appear much younger, wers
turned over to the police Of the Sixth Pre-
cinct yesterday afternoon by a conductor
of Baltimore and Ohio train and held
last night. They were claimed by theil
father this morning.
The children were found at Randolph
Nd, a station about sixteen miles from
this city. by a citizen and given over in the
| charge Of the train conductor. They are
| the children OF John B. Rock, dealer II
| undertakers' supplies, whUss place of lusi-
ness is at No. 461 G. Street aud whose homs
is at No. 905 e Street northwest. The lit
| tie ones had been absent from home since
6 o'clock yesterday morning.
Daisy and johnnie tell a remarkable So
ry, which is corroborated in many details
by their father. They claim to be the vic
tins of cruel treatment inflicted by Mrs
Rock, their stepmother. Mr.. Rock, in
speaking OF the trouble last night, said:
1T is the old. old story OF s:epmothe::
That one word tells the whole thing"
The children recounted numerous in
stances of cruelty, and said thy stood II
as long as they could and finally decided
tuat the only tnfHS IOE tHtiu W uO NdS "
run away. Accordingly they formed their
plans and when they retired TO tacIr beds
Monday night arrangements mad been
completed for long journey ia tie morn
ing.
The children have travelled little and
know nothing Of the world. They couli re-
call cne city. their former home, Sterling,
III. The children bad many recol.ec.ions
of the place and had visited thare many
ii nes since coming 10 Washington. There
their mother died and was burle!. at the
time OF Ter death friends took charge OF
the half orphans. They have Lot forget
ten the friends, and when they arose yes
.erday morning they slipped out of the
house while the remainder OF the family
was asleep, and started on 4 journey to-
ward Sterling.
From their home the children went to
the Baltimore and Ohio Station. where
they remained until 3 O'Clock, watching
the trains coming n and going cut. Then,
hand in hand, they walked out of the sta
tion and along the railroad track for six
teen long miles Until they reached Ran
dolph. Here they were overtaken by a
storm and sought shelter under the little
station. citizen noticed the children
and. after questioning them. learned their
story. He advised that they return home
and placed them In the care of the con-
ductor of 4 train en- route TO Washington.
The children were turned over to Police
man Gordon at the railroad station in this
city. and he took them to the station
house.
Mr.. Rock notified the police of the alb
sence of the children early yesterday
morning and the various precincts had
been cautioned TO have the policemen look
out for them.
Mrs. Rock also learned that the children
were in custody and went to the station
house for the purpose of obtaining them,
but as they ignored her. and refused to go
home with her. the police decided to hold
them until the father had been heard from
Mr.. Rock had not been idle and after his
wife had departed from the home he took
his youngest child. LOWE. five years old,
TO the house OF friend. 1t was his in
tention to place Daisy and Johnnie in the
care of the same friend, but Mrs. Rock
remained with them at the station and re-
fused to allow her husband to take the
children unless he would promise they
should go home. Mr.. Rock stated that he
would not do that under any circumstances
as the children were opposed to it and he
was considering their welfare.
Finally, Mrs. Rock asked that she be al
lowed to take the children home that she
might clean and redress them, promising
TO let them go Wnere Mr.. ROCK should de-
eide this morning. Mr.. Rock consented
to the proposition and the agreement was
about to be reached when a discussion
arose, which resulted in the man and wife
leaving the children in the custody of
Stationkeeper Garner. Garner. after ques-
tioning the children, discovered that they
had not eaten anything since Monday
evening He fed them and turned them
over to the matron, who put them to bed.
Mr. Rock called at the station early this
morning and took the two children to the
home of his friend, where they will proba-
bly, reside in the future.