The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-12-30
GIVE HIM A FLAG.
Topeka Will Prove John Holmes
Nativity.
''Man Without a Country to
Be Provided.
SIGNED STATEMENT.
STATEMENT.
Citizens Who Knew Family Will
Send Petition.
Hoped That Uncle Sam Will
Grant Rights of Citizenship.

John Holmes, the young man without
a. country who is cruising on the At
lantic coast waiting for some proof to
appear in order that he might show
| Uncle Sam that he is an American
born citizen, will soon realize his am
bitioa.
Since the story in the State Journal
| last evening describing the circumstan-
ces and giving extracts from the boys
letter to Mayor. Green stating that he
was born at the corner of Eighth ave-
rue and Buchanan street. Mayor Will
lam Green has received from IL to Is
calls and notes from people over the
city who will vouch for the fact that
the family of David WATSON Holmes
once lived in Topeka and that they had
a son who vas born about 1883 and
whose name was John.
The positive proof of the fact that
John Holmes was baptized in the
given out late this afternoon whom
George NJ. Chase. clerk of the session
of the First Presbyterian church, found
the old records of the baptism.
The records show that John A.
Holmes, infant of David and Jane H.
Holmes, was Baptized by Rev. E. c.
Ray, pastor of the First Presbyterian
church, on April s, 1888. 1t also
shows that Da'id Holmes and Jane H.
Holmes, his wife. were received as
members CT the First Presbyterian
church February Is, 1888, upon Ger
tifcate from the Free Church of Scot
land at Bridgeton, Glasgow.
This proof will be sent to the gov
John Holmes from landing on the
American soil as a citizen of the United
States because he has failed to show
that he was born in this country.
AS a result of this series of calls and
volunteers Mayor Green has written to
Captain Joseph Waters Of this city,
who has taken a great interest In the
case. and Captain Waters VIII prepare
e statement for the signatures of all
those who knew the Holmes family.
This statement will be signed and sent
to young John Holmes with letter
to the government officials. 1t is hoped
that by this certificate the government
will give Holmes the rights and priVl-
legeS OF an American citizen and allow
him to place his foot on shore
1t will be remembered that on ac-
count of the failure of the Topeka
physicians to report their births to the
city board of health-and this state or
affairs still continues-there could be
no record found of the birth of John
Holmes. son of Mr. and Mrs. David
WATSON Holmes who lived at the cor
ner of Eighth avenue and Buchanan
street in 1888. AS a result of this loss
was unable to land on the American
shore-he could not prove that he was
born in the United States and he did
not have enough money to land as
foreigner. Thus he found it necessary
to remain at sea and has appealed to
Mayor Green to find some record of his
birth.
Captain Waters said this afternoon
that he Knew the Holmes family we'll
David Holmes was a horseshoer at the
e ~irrI,4 P1nh
a large livery stable was erected. He
lived with his family up stairs He
worked for Bennett & Smith who were
large importers of Scotch and French
horses. Holmes was Scotchman ana
came to America to attend to the Scotch
horses imported to this country.
1t was stated by man who knew
the family, this afternoon that Ed
ward Bennett, the importer, brought
David Holmes over from Scotland in the
early eighties. He was considered a
skillful blacksmith and was well known
in Topeka for his excellent work. Many
people know him here. especially those
who had something to do with the I'M
ported horses and the dealers.
At a meeting of the Scottish society
last night it was discovered that many
of the Scotchmen in attendance knew
David Holmes well. 1t was resolved at
the meeting to do all in their power to
prove the identity of the boy and appeal
the dL w wi ~
give to the young man his rights.
James Cuthbert, prominent member
of the society, stated this afternoon
that he knew of the Holmes family
and that a number of the members Of
the Scotch society also knew the cir
cumstanees. One man declared that he
was at the First Presbyterian church
when the baby bow John was baptized.
The petition to the government Will
be prepared today and all those who
think they knew the family and can
remember a number of circumstances
will do DUTY to their country by sign
i1.g the paper and thus give to an am
bilious young man his rights as an
American citizen.
1t is considered unfortunate that
man should cruise up and down the
ragged shores of the Atlantic with his
native country constantly in view and
still find himself a man without a
country and without fag. All this
on account OF the inexcusable negligence
on the part of the physicians of this
city who still fail to report their births
to the city board of health.