The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1902-07-18
READ MORTON RECLAIMED.
John Pond. Father Of Little Read Morton,
who Is Well known in G0od1antl. Take
Back His Boy 90 Kansas City.

Back His Boy 20 Kansas City
John c. Pond, a contractor, Of Kansas
City, went to Denver this week to claim
bis child, William Read Morton, a boy Of
ten years, who is well known il Good
land Owing to the great change Of
conditions and common consent. the
father decided to take the boy back
again, and Judge Lindsey at Denver
made the order transferring the custody
Of the boy to his father, who returned
with him to his home in Kansas City
this week.
The name Read Morton will at once
bring to the minds Of many GOOdland
people the familiar figure Of boy Of ten
years, with fair and open face and blue
eyes. He lived il GOOdland with bis
father from 1895 until a few weeks ago
when his father removed to Denver.
Master Read was Just little past three
years old when be first came to Good
land. He was a sweet faced child and
by his pleasant childish manners he at
once made himself the pet Of many of
the railroad boys. But athe child whom
many fathers share seldom knows q
fathers care" This was not altogether
the case with Read, but the tendency
only. Though loved by his father, he
was SO mOnOpOlized here or there by this
or that one, that his father gave up try
ing to keep an immediate watch upon
In Z
trainmaster. His first wife was then
living and she dressed the little fellow
tidily and took much pride and comfort
IN their only and adopted child. While
she was alive Reed knew a tender mo
theirs care, and, each day reclaimed from
the masculine influence Of the street, he
was preserved to a loving and affection
ate childhood
Several years ago Mrs. Morton died
and Read lost his best friend-mother-
to whom a child always runs from the
fears and fatigue Of the day to be Tapped
in safety and lulled to sleep under the
sweet innuendOs Of the lullabye. After
this affection, a change from good for
tune, too, came to Mr.. Morton. He lost
his position as trainmaster, and then
rented the Depot hotel, Of which he was
landlord until several weeks ago, when
ne sold out his interest TO Q. G. Young
and removed to Denver.
While the father was more closely Oc-
cupied with his business cares Of the
hotel, Reed was much at large and, Of
course, increased the number Of his
youthful acquaintance, taking on the
rough characteristics of rougher boys.
At school he was not dull, and in contact
with the rest Of his playmates manifested
an energetic and lively spirit
About a year ago Mr.. Morton married
his second wife, Mrs. SandbOrn, who had
previously been acting as landIady Of the
hotel. She was Of a masculine turn Of
mind-mOre business like than home
hke-and In her Reed found no quiet
refuge; no shilling resort. He was boy
left pretty largely to the influence Of IN
certain and outside environment. So he
grew.
After Mr.. Morton removed to Denver
he rented a rOOming house. His circum-
stances seemed to go from bad to worse.
His health gave away and he has become
permanently i'll, being subject to con-
tinued coma, or uncOnsciOusness. And
Read at last fOrsaken found himself in
the home for the friendless in Denver.
Reed was adopted in February, 1888
the adoption papers being recorded in
Jackson county, Mo. When the boy wsa
\ adopted his name was changed from
\ Paul Utley Pond TO William Read Nor.
ton. By order of Judge Lindsey the
name was changed back again TO Pau
Utley Pond and the boy was given &c
his father. The Mortons live Cd South
Tenth street in Denver.