Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-12-19
i11gs; Sh0W
Tell Why His Father
s0o ee7' 0esse7 Dt5te7, EE70Z1ZII Where Tie
WaV Came From, Why IT Was abandoned
and Why II VIII Never Be Claimed

that she was Industrious. but she vas
not an expert seamstress. We know she
lived. with her children, in big house,
with lots Of grass about 1t, and moo-cows
and chickens" This mother did not
own the farm. Otherwise she would not
have been compelled to make the sacri-
fee. She was merely employed there.
We know there was big boy" there
who took Finley away from the big
house. This boy was not brother, be.
cause he vas spoken of in terms Of dis.
tant awe by the child. We know man
brought Finley to New York. He did
this with the permission OF the mother.
He bore no intimate relationship to the
boy because he was spoken OF in no
terms OF affection. This man was the
owner OF the farm, the employer Of the
woman. and the father OF the boy who
took Finley away. The farm could not
have been PROSPEROUS, for the conditions
OF poverty endured by the mother-as
indicated IN the clucs we have followed
proved this. On this farm there was no
prospect for the little fellow when he
grew up-he might not be able to go to
school: as soon as his ii:tle arms were
able ne would have to helm in the hard
sordid work What was the crucial cir
Cumstance that resulted in the decision?
900 Cities Having Broad Sheet"
Are Searched for the Boys Home
The farmer offered to marry the WON.
an. This meant home, poor as II was.
The girl, Gwendolyn Mary, had BEGUN
assisting in the routine work of keeping
the house. cooking, cleaning, milking the
COWS. She might grow up there, and
some day young farmer-perhaps a son
Of one OF those who owned one OF the
automobiles that passed the house-wouid
marry her. 4 womsn's place was In the
home. Inc girl must grow up to take
care OF home. AT any rate. girl
could not be gent edrift. The mother
knew rich childless people want boys
rather than girls. The girl could marry.
The farmer who offered 10 marry the
houselieeper disfavored her son-perhaps
there was a hit OF jealousy for the child
of the man who had been the woman's
first husband. The farmer was not
averse TO taking the child away. In
deed, he encouraged the plan often in
the evening when he talked with the
mother. There would be one mouth less
to feed if the boy was removed The
farmer took more favorable interest in
Gwendolyn Mary because she had trained
her little hands to work.
Thus one day, SO that Gwendolyn Mary
might not suspect. It was arranged that
The farnier's son should take the child
into the town, where railroad station
WAS located The farmer went ahead.
met the boy and Finley at the station.
and the trip TO the great city was begun.
But from where was the wait brought?
Where was he born? In the station
house. after he was discovered by Police
man Dinegan, he mentioned q broad
street. The boy cero from city or
town with a Broad street, declared the
detectives who were employed in tie
quest OF bis antece6entS Accordingly,
they made search in more than one
thousand cities and towns In the United
States having Broad street. All OF
this was futlla
The most vigorous energies CT the de.
'actives employed centeyed in securing
Philadelphia. The search proved only
what we know-that Finley Shepard was
not born IL Philadelphia.
The entire EASTERN section OF the
United States vas likewise searched,
country distrat5 and towns. Tho trip 10
The BIG beat. the Investigators concluded
indicated the tfldson ferry. Therefore
the boy could have come by railroad only
from the northern part of New York
State. on the West Shore Railroad, or by