Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1901-07-05
ADVENTURES OF A QUEER BOY.
HIS Strange Visit TO Buckingham
Palace Early ia Queen victoria,s
II ReIn

Palace Early In Queen victoria,s
Reign.
Amid the food of anecdotes con-
nected with the late queen and royal
family that has been pouring
through the columns of the press,
do not think anyone has called atten-
tion to the adventure of the "boy
JONES'" at buckingham palace, few
years after the queens marriage,
says Edward Vizettelly, in London
Free Lance. This young fellow was
twice caught within the royal resi-
dence, without anyone being able to
explain how he got there. On the
first occasion he was surprised by a
porter early in the morning leisurely
surveying one of the apartments. On
being searched, nothing of impor-
tance was found upon him, burt he
had made up a bundle containing a
sword, pot of bears grease, and
some old letters.
He was covered with SCOT, from
head to foot, and looked like sweep,
but denied tnat such was his calling,
pointing out that his sooty appear
ance was due to his having concealed
himself in chimneys in the daytime.
For awhile he had occupied the
vacant bedroom of one of the equer-
ries. and had left the sooty imprints
| of his frame on the sheets. He stout
~ declared that his intrusion was
not for the purpose of theft. but to
| find out how royalty and the great
swells" like royal footmen lived His
examination before the magistrate
created great amusement. He ad-
mitted that he had been in the palace
on previous occasions. and for days
| together. In fact. he had "put up
there" he said He had found it a
very comfortable place. The apart
mert he liked best was the drawing
room. During the day he hid behind
the furniture, when he was not up n
chimney, but late at night, when
everyone had gone to bed, he walked
about, went into the kitchen, and got
his food. Then he related that he
had seen the queen and her ministers
in council, and had listened to all
they had to say. When asked If he
had worn the same shirt all the time.
he calmly replied: Yes. when it was
dirty | washed it in the kitchen"
And then he volunteered the infor-
nation that he knew his way all over
! the palace, and had been right
through it-in the queens apart
ments and all. He had found out
that her majesty was very fond of
| politics, he said.
This lad revealed himself such, a
| pleasant vagabond, with his anus
ing ways and astounding impudence,
that no very serious punishment was
inflicted on him. He was merely put
away for a short term. Nor did he
fare very badly when caught a sec
ond time. On this occasion he was
caught crouching in a recess, and,
being dragged out of it. was taken
to the police station. He then told
the magistrate that he had concealed
| himself under a safe in one of the
queens private apartments, and had
overheard long conversation be-
tween her majesty and Prince Albert
He was sent to the house of correc.
ton for few months, in the hope
of breaking him of the mania for in,
truding on the sovereign's privacy. as
the offense was mildly termed. But
soon after his release he was found
prowling in the vicinity of the
palace. Finally the authorities in
duced him TO emigrate TO Australia
where he eveidently blossomed into
a well-to-do colonist. 1t was soor
after these events that Baron Stock
mar was brought over here to intro
duce order and discipline into the
| royal residence.