Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-12-10
BEREFT OF PROTECTOR.
JOHN e. PARKER DESERTS
MoTHERLEss CHILDREN.
Leaves for Parts Unknown Follow
ing Death of His Wife-Case
Of Destitution.

Four motherIess little girls, one of them
said to be dangerously Ill, are bereft of the
care of their father. The case as reported
by Mr.. C. A. Snow, patent attorney, is a
sad one. It is said that John e. Parker,
who had been employed as clerk at Mr..
Shows office in the Warder building, dis
appeared just eight days after the death
of his wife. Clara May Parker, and left
his little girls at the home, $40 Sth street
southwest, to be cared for by strangers.
Still sorrowing over the loss by death of
their mother. and apprehensive because of
the dangerous Illness of diphtheria of their
little four-year-old sister Esther, they are
given cause for additional sorrow by the
disappearance Of their father.
The physicians fear that the malady with
which Esther is afflicted may prove fatal,
and owing to its contagious nature the
house on Sth street has been placed under
quarantine. Besides Esther the other chill
dren are Dorothy, aged nine years; Ruth,
seven, and the baby, Naomi, two years.
Their mother died after a long illness, No
vember 2S and the children have not been
in the street since that time. They have
been cared for by Mrs. William Dagger,
neighbor. The father did not make any
provision for the little ones and they are
said to be badly in need of clothing. Owing
to the long period their mother was Ill they
have become almost destitute of garments,
1t is said.
In his efforts to locate the father, Mr..
Snow caused to be inserted in the news
papers the following advertisement:
LOsT-A FATHER. FINDER WILL PLEASE
return to four motherless little girls Notify G.
A. SNOW, Patent Attorney, Warder bldg.
Talked Over Telephone.
Mr.. Snow says that Parker. the missing
man, called him up on the telephone last
Thursday night, from saloon at Pennsyl-
vania avenue and 18th street. He appeared
to be at an unusual condition, and did not
talk coherently, according to Mr.. Snow.
He said he was going away and that none
of his local acquaintance would ever see
him again, and that he thought 1t was
time.
Before Mr.. Snow could interrogate Parker
any further he hung up the telephone re-
ceiver. He said nothing about the children,
and Mr.. Snow supposed that he intended
to take them with him. Mr. Snow knew
that Esther was i'll of diphtheria. and this
knowledge prompted him to look into the
matter on the following morning. He
found the little girls waiting for their
father, and wondering at his absence.
Friends believe that Parkers mind was
affected by his bereavement, and that the
idea to get away from the old associa-
tions was the Pigment of disordered brain.
He had always been a kind huband and
father, and had taken good care of his
until his wife was taken ill., but since that
time had been cratic leaving the Office
for long periods and failing to explain his
frequent absences.
Police Notified.
Friends of the deserted children have
notified the police department and mem
bers of the force were instructed to keep a
lookout for him. Circulars, with Photo
graphs and detailed descriptions were
sent to neighboring cities and towns. That
was three days ago. Nothing has been
heard.
Parker is described as thirty-five years
old, height five feet eleven inches, weight
100 pounds, light complexion, blue eyes,
smooth face. dark clothes, black soft hat
and new black overcoat.
9 Mr.. Snow is providing for the care Of the
little girls pending developments. He be-
1ieves that the father will return when he
RECEIVERS and in the meantime will make
no effort to have them removed to an in
stitutfon. In the meantime the children
are absolutely dependent upon charity.