The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1903-05-13
BOY TRAMP
TELLS STORY
Leaves Good Home to Become
a Vagabond
SOME TRAMP LINGO
Tells of His Travels and How
He Got a Living
TRAMP

st. Louis, May 11.-Mrs. c. l. Davies, Of
Kansas City, passed through St. Louis
Saturday morning on her way to Law
renceville, Ill, where her son, Archie, 13
years old, is held by the authorities, with
the tramp, who, according to Mrs Da-
vies, has twice lured him away from
home.
Il am very grateful to the Post-Dis-
patch for its work" said Mrs. Davies. L
believe it found my boy after 1 had
searched for him in vain more than a
month
Mrs Davies is confident that the tramp
under arrest at Lawrenceville is the same
who lured her boy from home in August
and again in March.
She was shown the boys statement to
the Post-Dispatch correspondent in Law
renceville to the effect that he left home
in March of his own accord because he
liked tramp life and that the tramp ar
rested with him in Lawrenceville is not
the same he was with on his first trip.
Il don't believe he means what he says. y
said Mrs. Davies. He is just trying to
be what boys call game
''Of course. I don't believe this tramp
actually kidnapped him. But he has
him under his influence. It's the same
tramp who got him before, because Ar
thur said before he went away this time
that the tramp he was with the first trip
was around again. And then he disap-
peared.
Il believe the tramp just sort OF hypno-
tized him. Then he went away"
Mrs Davies does not expect TO have the
tramp returned to Missouri for prosecu-
ton. She win try to have him punished
for vagrancy in Illinois.
Archie Davies or kim Kid" as he is
known among the hobo fraternity, awaits
with dread the coming of his mother. Mrs.
Oliver /. Davies. of Kansas City, who is
speeding to this city to reclaim her son.
The boy tramp confesses that it will be
a trying ordeal to greet mis- mother, from
whom he fed March 81
For the first time he feels contrition for
the sorrow he has caused her by his way
wardness.
He stated 10 the Post-Dispatch staff cor
respondent that during his wanderings he
has not once thought seriously of home
or kindred, so enamored has he been with
the life OF freedom and irresponsibility
of a tramp.
Twice has he left his home in Kansas
City and wandered thousands of miles
with the pariahs of society.
He denies that he was lured from home,
although his relatives say tramp known
as ..Blacz Jack" but whom the boy calls
tom. enticed him away both times. He
saws he left each time because he wanted
TO see the world.
Love of adventure was the cause Of his
severance of home ties, and the fascina-
ton Of the life grew upon him. He says
it is now so deeply ingrained that he
doubts the nomadic instinct will ever be
uprooted.
The boy is handsome He has stall
wart body and broad shoulders, which
give him the appearance of one three
years older.
His eyes are brown and candid His
forehead is high and broad. His hair is
chestnut brown, silky and well kept. De-
spite his rowing life. he believes in keep
ing clean He has a wholesome, winning
Rpeparance which enlists the attention
OF strangers.
It's so easy TO get along without work
Ing" he says. People are kind TO me
invariably. I have learned to approach
them and can read their faces. Why
should / work and stay home and con-
tinuany account to my parents for the
way I spend my time? When I'm away
I'm my own boss"
In his own way the boy is a shrewd
philosopher He has seen much of life
and he is yet not vicious. His manner
is natural and he has a joyous laugh.
Only when requested 10 speak of his ex-
perience in hobo camps does he allow the
vernacular of the Ishmaelites to creep
into his speech Then he can quote II as
fluently as a veteran.
Sheriff Carr has taken a great fancy 70
The hoy and gives him every privilege.
He is a prisoner in the Lawrence county
Sail. but hundreds of persons have been
allowed to call and see him. among them
n number of women.
To visitors the boy showed such good
breeding that everyone wondered how the
life of a tramp could attract him.
The tramp. Frank Wilmouth. who IS
charged with Turing Archie from home.
IS q years old. small Of stature and re-
ticient Of speech. He denies kidnapping
the boy. He saws he met Archie in
Springfield. H.. and when the latter told
him he had run away. he proposed that
they hit the road together" They have
been chums since, and share and share
alike
Wflmouth SAYS he was born on the Iron
Mountain road fifteen miles from St.
Louis. His father and mother died when
he was Q years Of age. He has been hit
ting the pike" since He has never worked
longer than four months at single time
He denies being hook" or tramp thief.
The limit Of his vagrancy. he claims IS
''mooching" or begging.
ITS plenty easy and no bars In sight. %
Is his code
There Is nothing particularly attractive
about HIM personally and his mentality
IS not strong. vet he Yields Il strange IN
Huepce over the boy.
Sheriff p. ]. Carr is not assured that
vilmou<h Is not BLACK Jack Arches
companion on the frSt expedition
He arrested the man and boy near the
Baltimore < Ohio Southwestern yards
Thursday evening
The lad had lust come from a house
where he had begged supper for the
two.
The sheriff. who had a description Of
The missing hoy. and his companion. he
gan 70 question them. and when Their
answers were conflicting. locked them NJ
for Identification
wnmou.h was considerably disconcert-
ed when told that Mrs. Davis was On her
way TO identifv him ne Black Jack.