The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1907-08-09

year mas UFeQ Win MfHs + rFEy on n
street southwest, and Mrs. Barker. who is
employed iE n cigar store on II street
northeast, called on him frequently.
Does Not Believe Hoy Kidnapped.
Il cannot believe that my dear child
has been kidnapped" she said, in an
swer to the question Of the lieutenant,
"as there could be no possible motive for
such a crime. He has wandered away
from the camp. and has been lost. and l
am living in the hope that he has been
picked up by some farmer and will be
returned 10 me. No one could have the
heart 10 harm the little fellow. as he
is loyable. friendly little chap, and ev-
crybody is at once attracted to him. He
was at the camp year ago. and came
home looking so rosy and well that l was
glad when ] was told that he could 90
again. and get away from the hot city.
His father cannot possibly have been re-
sponsibie for MS disappearance. as some
people claim, for he has not seen the boy
for two years, and has no interest in
him whatever. / an sure that the father
is not IN this vicinity, and ] know that he
has no interest whatever in the child.
Child May Have Been Picked Up.
Mrs. Barker is twenty-four years old,
and is from Goldensville, Va. She has
been in Washington about four years, and
has another child two months old. The
theory that the father had taken the
child away is effectuaIly disSipated by
Mrs. Barker's statement. and the police
have entirely given up that idea
Capt Elliott and the police on the
scene of the disappearance hold TO the
theory that the boy has been picked up
by some one coming along the road in
wagon. although they do not know what
motive stranger could have for doing
so. This theory is lent color by the state
ment Of a colored man who claims that
about o'clock last night be saw a
small boy wandering along the road,
beating the bushes with a stick. The po-
lice made Inquiries. and located the exact
spot which the colored man described.
but could find no one living near there
who had seen anything OF the boy.
May Be Dead in the Woods.
Il was though for a time last night
that a clew had been obtained, as the
police Of the Fifth precinct reported that
lost child had been taken 10 23S Tenth
street northwest An investigation, how
ever. showed that the child was Walter
White, who had gotten lost while at
tending a band concert with his mother
The members OF the camp still cling 10
the theory that the child wandered of
and was lost IN the swamp or woods
about the place. One Of the attendants
there said &c Washington Herald repre-
sentative last night that the child was of
an extremely nervous disposition. and
seemed not 10 enjoy the games which
were arranged for Wednesday.
She said: I am convinced that the little
fellow became lonesome and ran away.
he could easily have wandered far enough
20 make IL impossible for Us TO hear his
cries, and believe that he will be found,
just as the Marvin boy was. When they
did not ind him tonight 1 was deeply
grieved. for a child OF that age cannot
60 without food or water for such
length OF time without succumbing He
has probably tainted by this time, and
unless the searchers come upon him there
is small likelihood that be viii answer
their shouts"
Came 10 Camp Wednesday.
The child arrived at Camp Good VIII
Wednesday afternoon. expecting 10 stay
several days. lie was with party OF
ffty-fve children taken 10 the camp from
the southwest section Of the city. Rob-
ert had been boarding with q Mrs. Ferry, |
at 32S K street southwest. and she ac-
companied him 10 the camp Mrs. Ferry /
could not be seen last night. but her
half-sister. Nettie Ferry. was on the |
scene. and said that she had always IN
derstoOd that the boys father had died |
OF typhoid fever some years ago, and |
that she was surprised 10 know that he
was alive, as she and all her friends had
always been led 10 believe that he was
dead.
She said she had never seen the father, |
but had known Mrs. Barker ever since
she came 10 Washington. and that her
sister, Mrs. Ferry, had always taken an
interest in the child, and that he had
been living with them since he was a
baby. She accompanied the search |
ers all day yesterday.
How Child Was Missed,
Mrs. Ferry and the boy reached the
camp in the afternoon, and were imme- |
1AatNl9 GSSl5Atu 70 tents. Inc Barker !
child ate supper at o'clock, and later
went with Mrs Ferry 10 see the foot |
races. Mrs. Ferry became interested in /
the sports, and UnConsciously lost sight |
Of the boy As there were many children 4
under the trees and in the tents Mrs 4
Ferry expected 10 find the boy among /
them, but when she tried to locate the /
child he was gone. She hunted for about 4
ten minutes. then rushed TO Mrs Edna /
X. Bushee, superintendent Of the camp, /
and reported that the child was missing. |
AT first it was thought that he would .
turn up shortly, but after a search OF half 1
an hour the entire camp was alarmed and /
a diligent search began. At first only
the immediate vicinity of the camp was
hunted, but when that proved fruItless
the scope Of the search was extended and
the vigil was continued ali through the
night. All the searching parties reported I
at the camp at o'clock yesterday morn
ing. and under the direction OF the police
made every effort TO locate the boy.
Reward Is offered.
a reward Of $50 has been offered for the
boy-$25 by the police department and SO
by the Board of Charities This will prob
ably be increased to-day, as all the men,
hn-c # 4bn koav7 ~, ,,,,s.b o,f+-.,.z 49, Z