The Savannah morning news., 1904-09-04
LITTLE NEGRO
LANDS AT HOME
TWO YEARS WITH ACTORS.
MOTHER of BOY NOW COMPLAINS
SHE WAS NOT PAID.

Appealed to United States Attorney
Leaken, But Case Did Not Come
Under Any PeOnnEe Statutes, as
She Had Contracted for Son to
Gotten Dollars Per Month Was
Pay PrOmised-NOtihed That Boy
Would Return Friday On City of
Columbus From New York.
Tossed up like bit of fiotsam, after
two years of service with a theatrical
combination, Francis Lamar, a 6-year-
old negro boy whose mother lives at
Thunderbolt, was returned to Savan-
nah Friday on the City of Columbus.
The boy was years and Is days old
when he started on his engagement on
Oct. 1, 1902, with Barry and Wolford,
a man and woman, who did what their
letter head is pleased to describe as
"a character conversational singing
and talking act" They appeared at
the Thunderbolt Casino in the sum-
mer of 1902.
Under the terms of the written
agreement between the child's mother
and George w. Barry and Maude VOL
ford, witnessed by Mayor L. w. Nell
son of Thunderbolt, on Aug. 10, 1902,
the theatrical couple were to have the
services of the child for two years, the
agreement on their part being that
they were to pay the mother $40
month for the boys services, besides
clothing, feeding and educating him to
the best of their ability.
During 1he two years which have
elapsed since the beginning of the con-
tract the mother alleges she has not
received a cent of the $3.50 due her I'M
der the terms of the agreement.
Was Notified of Arrival.
Last Wednesday she received a note
under date of Aug. 20, from New York
on the letter head of Barry & Wolford,
containing the following information:
Francis will arrive on the steamer
City of Columbus. 1t leaves Tuesday,
Aug. 80 at 8 p. m, and will arrive in
Savannah about Friday Have writ
ten you letter and put it in his grip.
Look for it. Hoping everything is
satisfactory, we remain, yours in haste,
Barry & Wolford, New York Clipper, %
West Twenty-eighth street, New York
city,
In accordance with the letter, the
child Francis Lamar arrived Friday on
the steamer named. Those who saw
the wait described him as resembling
a little tramp. his clothes being torn
and patched, and his general appear
ance being widely at variance with the
terms of the agreement by which the
couple were to keep the child in good
clothes, unless they should claim in
ability to clothe the child any better.
The promised letter in the grip failed
to materialiZe.
Invokes Government Aid.
Seeking some means of redress, Mar
tina Lamar, the mother of the child,
yesterday called on United States At
torney w. r. Leaken to see if the aid
of the government could be invoked.
While realizing the injustice done
the mother in not paying her the sum
agreed on for the childs services, Mr..
Leaken told her that it was not such
a case as the federal government could
take cognizance of. AS the mother had
given her consent it was not a case
coming under the peonage acts.
The woman will bring suit in New
York against Barry and Wolford, she
said, seeking to recover the full $240
for the two years as per the contract.
Boys Departure Remembered.
Many persons will remember the
departure of the 4-year-old boy from
Savannah in charge of the two the
atrical people and the amusement
which his unique appearance created.
The child seemed to be delighted with
his clothes, though the use of shoes
was new. He resembled a dressed
monkey, and an account of his depart
ure was given in the Morning News at
! the time.
The child was used by the couple in
their stunts, and contributed greatly to
the success of their performances, it
is alleged, his diminutive size Great
ing much amusement. The boy has
nothing to show for his two years
work. except his travels and his keep.
Every effort will be made by the
mother to collect the amount alleged
to be due her for the services of the