The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-11-16
BACK TO HIS HOME
Ralph Anderson, Aged IL, Left
Today for QuindarO.
Ran Away From Home Because
Teacher Whipped Him.
NIGHT IN JAIL.
Cold and Hunger Completed
Work of Reformation.
JAIL.
Boy Cried for Ma ma and Chief
Jenkins Sent dim Home.

Twelve year-old Ralph Anderson of
Quindaro, Kan, concluded his sight
seeing trip Tuesday night in the Topeka
police station. Ralph left home partly
to see the country and partly because
he didn't like his teacher, Miss Grace
Newton, who whipped him.
1t was the boys first trip out in the
big, cold world and this morning he
cried for his mamma and asked Chief
Jenkins to send him home. Ralph left
his home in Quindaro last Thursday.
He rode in the boxcars and lived with
trampS. He ate meals with the profess
sional hoboes on the banks of streams
and these men told Ralph how to break
in houses and steal. Ralph says they
showed him how to shoot a revolver and
manipulated an electric flash light Then
the men left him and the boy contin.
ued his journey alone.
When a Rock Island freight train
reached Topeka Tuesday night, Ralph
was huddled up in one corner of a big
boXcar. He was nearly starved and the
little body shivered from cold. Then
Ralph went to restaurant and asked
for work. He wanted something to eat
and wanted it quick. I'm most starv-
ed" he told the waiter, and won't you
give me something to eat-something
real hot if you've got it, The boy was
fed and the police were notified.
1t was Ralph Andersons first night
in a police station, but the building was
IL.
and soon he was fast asleep. This morn
ing the boy asked Chief Jenkins to send
him home.
Honest, mister" pleaded the boy, IT
Won't never run away from home again.
I know mamma has been crying for me
and the folks don't know where L am.
and if you will just send me home. I
won't never do it again.
Il thought L could get on train and
run away and see lot of the world
and maybe I could earn some money
and buy a ticket back home some day.
I didn't have d single penny when 1
left and when the train reached Atchi-
son I was awfully hungry. When I met
some trampS they took me to their camp
and fed me. They told me bad stories
and showed me how to shoot and use
a flash light. Then two men took me
over near the railroad and told me how
to rob houses. They said l might get
hungry and want to steal something
before I got back. After they told me
how to steal the men left me, as they
said 1 might get them in trouble if i
hung around too much. One of them
was a little fellow with hunchback
and mustache and the other man was
about as big as that-man there. (Point-
ing to Jailer Woodruff.
Il didn't know Where l was going
but L got in another boxcar and the
train brought me here.
Papa and mamma were good to me.
but 7 didn't want 10 go TO ScnOoI anu
sometimes the teacher was cross to me-;
so I thought Ia just run away l guess
home is the best place for boy,
though, after all
Tears trickled down the boys cheeks
as he sat in the lobby of the police sta
ton and told his tory. He wiped his
face on his coat sleeve and several
times glanced at his shoes that were
ragged and torn.
Papa is a timer and makes good
money said the boy, but 1 was just
tired of staying in one place so long.
The boys joy was supreme when
Chief Jenkins told him that he would
be given ticket to his home.
TT seems as though the train never
will come" said Ralph as he stood on
the platform at the Santa Fe depot
and looked impatiently up and down
tho