Los Angeles herald., 1907-06-21
BOY IS ACCUSED
OF GRAVE CRIME
MUST ANSWER TO VIOLATING
YOUNG GILL
Is Alleged to Have Acted lndlscreetly
with Fourteen-Year-oId Maiden.
Locked in the County
Jail

Ralph Marcher, 10 years old, the son
of d. L. Marcher, a prominent and re-
spectacle citizen of Los Angeles, was
taken to the county Jail yesterday by
Charles Foster, chief of police OF jcSat Gcean
Park, and booked on charge or Violat,
ing the person of Missouri Vanes, girl
IA years old.
According to Foster, Marcher has been
paying considerable attention to Mis-
souri, Vanes for some time, and the eli
max was reached last Sunday night,
when he took the girl to, Venice W1th 1,L
him and kept her there all night; Mis-
souri, SOU Vanes is a very young girl, Her
mother says she is only IA years old, put
she is so large for her age that she Is Is
taken by most people to be at least 10.
Foster says that Marcher followed the
usual custom of many young sons OF
wealthy men and showed the girl T b1s g9oo 1is1
posal and gave the girl many denghtful
rides in Ii.
After the couple had seen enough o. Of
the sights of Venice and Ocean Park,
Foster says that Marcher rented room
at the Wave. lodging house on Pier ave-
nue. in Ocean Park and took the young
girl to the room, spending the night there
with her. Guests at the house noticed
the extreme youthfulness of the girl and
boy and notified the chief of police who
Immediately started Investigations.
The chief says that on Monday night
he found some friend of Marcher show
ing the girl around the beach and late
at night. they went BACK 70 the ne lodstngg stng
on Tuesday night and on Wednesday
night he determined to arrest all the
parties he could find.
Entire Party Arrested
One of his officers discovered the girl
walking up the beach late "Wednesday
on the instructions of his chief, he ar
rested them. Yesterday Foster took
Marcher to the county Jail and sent the
frightened child to the detention tho nome Wav
the young sons of wealthy men OF Los
Angeles use their time and money 70
dazzle the eyes Of young and unsuspec,t, e,
ing girls with whom they may come IN
contact. He says that the Mareher s
episode is an aggravated offense ana It is
time such things SHOULD be stopped he
saws that all young men VINO come TO
Ocean Park with similar disreputable
motives will be arrested and sent to jail
at the first opportunity. .o,,,>
RaIph Marcher's father lives at 1Sll1s
West Pico street. When interviewed last
night by Herald reporter Mr.. Marcher
said: ~ .,,o,, a., =
case with my son Ralph yet. He has
inst been released from Jail on bail and
has gone out again. He is just school
boy and L do not believe ne mas cone
not say what occurred, because he has
not had time to tell me yet, but 40 not
believe he is entirely to blame' II ne is
10 the home of little Missouri Mrs.
vanes is sad and quiet when her daugh-
ter's name is mentioned, but she is very
indienant when the name or Halpn Mar
nher is heard. She said yesterday:
t,Nissouri was always said by every one
to he a very beautiful child, ana she
was the incest girl around until some
voiine fellows got her to go automoblle
ytdinSS with them. Then she stayed out
nights and I lectured her. A short time
aeo I saw the young man who is now IN q
saS;i and gave him severe lecture ana
toid him to leave my child alone: lie
hung his head and muttered someLning9; *
What 1t was l do not remeinpyer' pu' ~
was to the effect that he woulo.
Thought Daughter at Church
"r,ast Sunday night thought Missouri
had gone to choir practice. When sne
did not return that night pegan 70
worry and to search for her ana sne was
found AT Ocean Park.
"I am very sorry for the notorieIy Ills tilis
will bring us, but rich young men VINO
own automobiles ought to be stoppe9
rnining Young girls. We have not nVeo
here long and will go away as soon az az
thisS trouble is disposed of, But we VIII
stay until the trial of this young man
who has done me so much Wrons 10 M
.sfissouri's father died when. she was
only wears old, and since that time
have moved around from one nouse s',
to another and have tried TO give my
girl good training. A.,
Marcher will probably be arraigneo IN
Jnatioa Etephens' court today.