Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1909-05-04
PLUCK AND CURLS
WIN POLICEMEN.
Lad Of Tender Years on His Way.
To Tennessee to See
His Mother.
is FLEEING FROM HIS. FATHER
Ills Story, as Told to tic BIuecoats,
Causes Them to Stand With Him
To Help Him Travel.

While fleeing from a father for
whom he has lost all affection or
respect to go to his mothers arms,
o. distance measured by almost the
breadth of the continent, 12-Faar-old
Bryan Alexander was intercepted in.
Salt Lake by the police today under
q telegram from the chief of police
OF San Bernardtno. Cal.
The story of Bryan Alexander is one
Of the strangest with which the To-
cal police have had TO deal. and in
the intensity of its appealing sympa-
thetic features, together with the
sturday fearless little manhood Of. the
chap who wants to see his mother. it
outrivals the fiction stories of boy
ish honor and adventure that delight
even the old.
Following q telegram received this
morning from the chief or police at
san Bernardino, Cal. which advs-
eu Il Watch for Bryan Alexander, ag-
ed Il years, light Completed; thought
to have been kidnapped. Hold il
found and Wire me-" Patrolmen
Clough and Pierce We're detailed to
watch the Los Angeles Limited train,
due in Salt Lake at 1850; and found
the boy.
He was. however, in the care of the
conductor and had in his possession
"a ticket reading from Redlands, Call,
to Martin, Tenn. Pinned to the ticket
was e. note from the district passenger
agent of the Salt Lake route
informing all conductors that the boy
was on his way to see his mother. and
asking that each conductor take him in
personal charge and care for him on the
way.
( AT the station the lad told his story
land the chances are that il the local
police have their way, if they do any
thing at ALL it will be to put him on
his way cast.
WORKED TO HIS PURPOSE.
Boylsh looking, with clear blue eyes,
almost flaxen hair, the curls of which
peep underneath his cap, a fearless ex-
preston and a gaze that never waivers
as he tells his story nor falters when he
is looked at, his whole bearing leaves
no room for doubt as to his trHthful-
ness. For month he had worked
hard as a,5lnessenger for the telegraph
company at Redlands, working over
time .Nit tllssone purpose in view, and
at the end of the month when he had
accumulated as wages s2s.25, he bought
a. haIf-fare ticket for Martin, Tenn,
and started for his mother.
Sitting in the desk sergeant's room at
the station, clad in blue overalls. q
well-worn Jacket, vet with clean, bright
face, he told News" reporter his
story, one that reflects a separated
household, and what may be Judged
an erring father. Yet the boy had no
word of condemnation. In his little
nanliness he had nothing bad to say
against his father, but only that he
wanted to see his mother.
MY father took me and brother
about two years older than am, to
Redlands, Cal, about two years ago.
He left mother on a farm about 6 miles
out from Martin Tenn. After we left
there, had another brother born.
mo, father and mother amt separat-
ed yet, but / guess they will be.
II wanted to get back to my mother,
and made up my mind to go. went.
got a guarantee of $50 a month. with
extra pay. made over a dollar a day.
and at the end of the month I had
s2S.25 had another dollar too, ana I
bought q ticket for s24.95 and paid
se.75 for a sleeper. and I've still got
over a dollar left,
FATHER WANTED MONEY.
NO; / wasn't kidnapped I didn't.
lGllt atStlCi WAT j NSfs EoihE. LIZ ltii'i
off his work for couple of days, and
I think it was to get my pay. Two
worked as messenger in department
stores for a year and he always took
my money.
II don't want to go back to father.
want to be with mother
The inference to be gained from tha
boys story and the view taken by tho
police is that the boys parents are
ga o,,l hot I,ag Co \, 4ot
tempted to keep the boy. When he
found that the lad had gone, probably
suspecting that he had started on his
way to the mother, the father had tho
message sent out indicating kidnapping.
At noon Bryan was taken to Matron
SGifford's room. where a special dinner
was made for him. With his honest,
straightforward boyish way and the ex-
preston of his hunger FOR the ,nother-
love, he has stepped into an IDOLS place
at headquarters.
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