Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-08-10
FATHER LOCATES SON
YOUNG JOHN MANNING FOUND IN
IOWA.

There is rejoicing in the family of DR..
William j. Manning, who is the proprietor
of a dental establishment at 1246 18th street
northwest, over the news of the finding of
the dentists son, John F. Manning, who
ran away from home three years ago. He
was fourteen years old when he left here
so unceremoniously. During all this time
not a word of any kind was received from
the boy until yesterday afternoon when a
message came from w. w. Goodykontz,
mayor of Boone, Iowa. telling of the pres
ence of the boy in that city 1t was further
stated that the boy will return home as
soon as transportation Is received for him.
As soon as Capt Boardman received the
message he communicated with the boy's
father and the latter was overjoyed by the
good news.
At the time John went away he said
nothing to his parents or friends about his
prospective journey, and the latter were dis
tressed over his absence. The police were
appealed to by DIR. Manning and every
possible inquiry made, but to no purpose as
no message was received to cheer the pa
rents until Mayor Goodykontz was heard
from yesterday. All during the three years
OF the boys absence his parents have been
busy trying to get some trace of him. When
the efforts of the police failed, the father
conceived the idea of interesting the Sal
walton Army in the case and 1t was through
the religious people that the boy was traced
to the Iowa town. The matter of transport
tation is being arranged and the truant boy,
who is now seventeen years old, is ex-
pected home before Sunday.
After Runaway Boys.
Seldom week passes that the police are
not asked to look out for runaway boys.
Similar requests also come from other
cities, and many OF the latter runaways
are caught here. Many Of the boys who
run away from their homes in other cities
do so because Of a desire to see the sights
here. During the past few weeks num-
Der of boys have been reported missing
from their homes in this city. Some OF
them were caught in Philadelphia and Bal
timore, and two or three of them are still
away
Boys become restless from various
causes, remarked a police official to a
Star reporter this morning, and there
seems to be no way to stop them. Usually
their desire to run away and do little
tramping is the result of associations or
the reading OF cheap literature. Many OF
the youngsters read OF the daring deeds as
told in the tales Of western life, and get an
idea that they would like to get taste OF
it. Then they usually begin by jumping
railroad trains sleeping in barns and get
ting handouts from men on the road or at
back doors. When once boy gets taste
Of jumping trains and likes the excite
ment, he is not apt to give 1t up unless he
meets with reverses and his better nature
It's remarkable he added. that there
are so many boys knocking about the
country in this way. They are to be seen
about railroad stations in the big cities,
in country towns and railroad functions,
and 1t would be difficult matter for their
parents to recognize them if they were to
see them when their faces are covered
with dirt and grease from the railroad
trains 1t is frequently the people of this
class who meet death on the rail, and their
bodies find resting places in paupers' ceme-
teries when friends at their homes are
mourning their absence and would spend
thousands of dollars to get their bodies II
they could only ascertain their where
abouts.'
Number Meet Death.
number of strangers, presumably or
this class, have met death in this section
during the past few years. Some of the
bodies are filing graves In potter's Held,
and others are buried in the woods in
neighboring states. There are several
graves along the river front in Maryland
and Virginia, in which unidentified bodles
are resting These bodies were washed
ashore at points near where they were IN
before the river will open some OF the
graves and wash away what remains OF
the bodies When bodies are found In the
neighboring states in this way, the county
officials go to very little trouble or expense
in the matter of burial, and seldom do they
trouble themselves in the matter or get
ting the bodies identified. AT ponce mead
quarters, Major sylvester has the photo.
graphs Of many such persons, but some OF
Them are in such condition that identified
tion would be impossible There are others
tba+ Y,,{pbt easily be identified