The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-06-20
HE LIKES. The JAIL
Does Little Negro Boy, and
Kiene Can't Get Rid of Him.
Never Had Ghost of Chance Till
He Met Kindly Sheriff.

There is only one real guest IN the
| Shawnee county Jail, and he is little
colored chap, nine years old. who an
SwerS to the name of Norwa1 Tell
man. And. although he happens to be
a guest of the self-invited variety, his
treatment is of the royal order. OF
course, Sheriff Kiene and the county
officials would like to get the young
ster off their hands But they don't
know Just where they can place him,
and as Sheriff Kiene has taken a
great personal interest in the lad, it
is a foregone conclusion that when
Norwall is sent on his way it will be
in a direction that will be to his best
advantage.
1t is useless to think of trying to
find a home for Norwall with some
relatives that he has in Topeka or
with others of his race who would be
glad to have such a bright and active
made up his mind that the Jail is the
only place for him in this neck of the
woods.
Il like the eats here he explains,
land they treat me fine
Not a Ghost of a Chance.
This boy hasn't had much of
chance. He was born in Lathrop, Mo.
But his mother has long since been
in her grave. And his father is in
the Missouri penitentiary for murder
ing her. After this tragedy, Norwall's
lot was cast with a grandmother in
Kansas City. With her he lived until
eight months ago, and then he was
sent to Topeka to live with an aunt
and uncle, who have their home in
the Pierce addition. But the boy de-
vcloped a dislike for his aunt and
uncle. They never treated him bru-
tally, but he got the idea that they
him to places that he wanted to go,
he says, and he included church in his
narration of these places.
So, having no fondness for his uncle
n 10 nrNc0nda6 m nj a G
little of their society as possible by
running away from their house when !
ever the opportunity Offered. This
was pretty often. And he became
chronic runaway. They reported the
boy to the juvenile court as an incor- |
rigible, and he was picked up by the |
county officers. That was the way he |
was introduced to the joys of life in a |
county Jail. |
There was no particular charge |
against him, when he was arraigned in |
the probate court after his first night |
in Jail. There was no one there to |
look out for his interests. John |
Schenck happened to be in the court |
room. He arrived at the conclusion
hat Norwal was too young, too like
able little fellow to be held in Jail
he court for permission to appear as
NorwalIs counsel. 1t was granted.
And through the efforts of Mr..
Norwan was sent to the col
are of him until he could be placed
n the State Orphans home at Atchi-
son. or a Colored Orphans home at
Came Back to Jail.
But no institute for him. His brief
stay at the Jail had made a great hit
With him. He remained at the insti-
ute one night andthe next day he
,eat it like a partridge for the jail
where he presented himself for incar-
era ton. There was nothing for Sher-
# Kiene to do but let him in. And
e has been there ever since. He has
he run of the place. In other words
es a ''trusty," and the greatest work
r for his size that ever did make his
ray into the Jail by any route.
On one of Norwalrs most recent
runaway trips from his uncle's home,
e took with him two chickens, his
wn he says. He needed some money.
called to him. He sold the chickens for
[, and his first purchase was a pair of
oggles, such are worn by motor
yclists. Putting these on, he speeded
Y foot to the city park and there his {
I'm began.
Had a Run for His Money.
How did you spend the rest of your
honey there?'' Norwall was asked
We'll, 1 first threw the balls at the
igger babies he replied with
buckle, land L won fifteen boxes of
andy. You get five boxes of candy if
GU knock three of the babies down {
18th three balls he explained, and
won fifteen boxes of candy"
How much money did you spend in
his way?''
Only fifteen cents" was the reply (
nd this is indicative of the fact that ,
lis little colored boy has better con- :
'ol when it comes to tossing balls than {
ny pitcher in the Western League or !
lmost any other league for that mat !,
:
Norwan squandered the rest of his :
'rtune on hamburgers, ice cream pop c
nd kindred delicacies. Altogether. he :
ad a perfectly grand time.
Ell likes life in the Jail better. =
lough. and will gladly stay there as g
ng as he is permitted to do So !