Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1916-07-03

From the way in (which Arthur
Bradford. a 10-year-old youngster
from Nobleboro is crowding events
into his young life it would not be
surprising if by the time he reaches
his majority he will have made for
himself a record barely equalled by
that of Stealthy Steve or some other
character of that type. OF course it
is possible that Arthur may through
some influence have his steps diverted
into different paths from those which
they are now following, and through
that same influence he may come to
something yet" but at present he can
only be judged by what he is.
Arthur was in Augusta last week,
but only for about two days, but dur
| ing that time he met the chief of po-
lice, the deputy chief and the judge of
the municipal court and not under
conditions that were particularly cred
liable to him, but those whom he met
had to admit that he was a bright ap-
pearing youngster, good talker and
also a prevaricator of more than or
binary ability. This latter quality he
used freely in speaking of his doings
in Augusta and before coming here,
and those who heard him agreed that
he made quite an impression.
The youngster has been in Kenne-
bee county for some little time and
has been living in East Vassalboro
with family to whom he was
brought by Mrs. York of Nobleboro,
State agent in Lincoln county for
the prevention of cruelty to children.
Afterward he was given another home,
with a family in Rome. Here he took
WELL being bright and smart and they
grew to be very fond of him, but after
he had stolen the family horse. a pair
of gold bowed spectacles and various
other articles, all of which but the
horse he succeeded in selling, accord
ing to the story told by the authori-
ties it was decided that he would do
better in another home, and he moved
by request.
Following Arthur's departure from
Rome he was, few days ago, placed
in the care of lady in Augusta and
he was so pleased with his new sur
roundings that Wednesday night he
ran away and was temporarily lost
sight of, but though he was missing
to everybody but himself he was hav-
ing good time.
He was on hand when the troops
left the city Thursday afternoon. and
was much pleased by the spectacle.
The day proved a rather hard one to
him, together with the excitement and
the fact that he had not been invited
since morning to eat anything, and
along toward nightfall when he fell
in with Officer Written Of the police
force he willingly accompanied the
officer over to the police station. Dep
uty Marshal McCausland received the
young man on his arrival and heard
from his lips tale of woe that
awakened sympathy in the officers
breast and incidentally brought to the
youngster a good supper, after which
he was given a bed in the womans
room for the night.
In the morning the deputy marshal
turned the boy over to City Marshal
HARDWOOD and that official took him in
to see Judge Lancaster. His story
to the judge was that he had been
living with his father in Augusta;
that his mother was dead and that
he had nine sisters, and that his faith
err worked in the mills; that his faith
er got drunk and turned him out. In
the course Of the interview however
the judge brought forth from the boy
the admission that he had been lying,
and also that he did not know his
fathers name. In the opinion of the
authorities the boy was the most fin
ished product in the art of lying that
has yet come down the pike.
The succeeding chapter in the boys
life which followed his brief stay in
Augusta came Friday afternoon Aft
er his interview with the judge Fri
day morning he was taken to Ben
ton and placed in a family where
boy Of his size was wanted. The
members of the family. so it is said,
were delighted with him. so much so
that when the head of the family went
after the cows at about shutdown he
took Arthur with him. All but one
cow was up to the bars, and when
the man told the boy to wait while
he went after the missing COW, the
boy asked: why can't I go?" the
man let him. the man thinking no
doubt the while what a good farmer
the boy would make. The boy start
ed to hunt up the missing COW, and
so far as the Benton folks know Sat-
urday forenoon, from the report
which came to the judge. the boy is
still hunting.
AuRusta friends of John II O'Melia