Putnam patriot., 1917-09-07
RUNAWAY BOY
TAKEN BACK
I. |. Lewis, Chief Probation Officer of
Cleveland, Ohio, Comes for John
0chyat, Aged Il
Boy Took SIS of Fathers Money and
Started TO See the World


great deal of trouble and inconven-
fence. A mouse may cause confia-
grafton. A horse shoe nail lost bat
tie. A worm caused flood Little
from mis- home in Cleveland, worried
his parents to distraction, caused an
officer to travel all the way to Putnam
and back, had To be fed four days by
the Putnam police and spent the FAM
lily savings. But Johnnie should wor-
ry. He had good time and didn't
care if he never went home.
John said this was his third week of
lice hadn't stepped in and locked him
up at the police station Monday. He
had been loating around the city hav-
ing a good time although he said he
He didn't really seem to know just
what life did mean to him. When he
talked at all he talked with an accent
that denoted his city environment. He
not left the Ohio city until the wan
derlust seized him about three weeks
age. His parents wouldn't let him
stay out nights. Now any big l2-year
old BOY ought to know best what was
good for him. AT least John thought
so. He didn't like staying in nights.
The gang in the district was having
lots of fun after the bright lights came
on and occasionally getting into trou.
ole. Trouble don't trouble John. He
is philosopher. He also likes excite
ment.
John didn't hear of this town
through any tales of General Israel
Putnam learned at school-although
John is in the seventh grade back
home where his seat has been vacant
for week, as school has begun there.
The way it came about was this There
was boarder in Johns home. John
is the only man in the family but has
seven sisters. The boarder left. He
came to Putnam and occasionally
wrote letters back TO the family. What
he said in the letters that lead John TO
think Putnam would give him more
excitement than Cleveland isn't known
but when John could stand the paren-
tai rule no longer and decided to "beat
itn he Just naturally thought Putnam
was the place to go. He came all alone.
Passed through New York. That burg
didn't appeal to John, he wanted to
come to Putnam and come he did. He
found the ex boarder and just natursl-
ly hung around where he was. AT
least he WAS there regularly at meal
time. But John didn't have meal
ticket and was too young to work for
one 1t became tiresome TO the ex-
boarder and he was just about to make
move when the police stepped In
and saved him the trouble.
While John was seeing the sights of
our little city, back home in Cleveland
there was a heartbroken mother. John
was her little man, her only son. She
cried for him nights and could think
OF nothing else during the day Where
was her little John? The father too
was alarmed. They made their
troubles known TO the city officials. III
was not long, and just about the time
that the ooarder bad decided that John |
was white elephant that the Putnam |
police received telegram ftom /. l.. [
Lewis, chief probation officer OF Cleve- !
land, asking them TO locate,if possible, /
the II year old globe trotter. The |
boarder,s name was mentioned. III |
was but a few hours before the Doarder |
was located and so WAS little John. |
The boarder got rid OF John and the |
police took up the burden and three /
times day had to carry food across |
the river to satisfy his boyish appe-
tite
kilograms were kept going back and |
forth to Cleveland until the final word /
came that the probation officer was on !
his way and would take John back /
home. John was given an opportuni-
ty to return alone, but SAID II they
want to play the game let them come
after me. I'm satisfied TO remain In
Putnam, why 20 back? So the prooa-
ton officer left Cleveland Tuesday
night and arrived in Putnam Thurs
day morning
Before leaving for home John called
at the PATRIOT Office. He took look
around the place but didn't say what
he thought of it. In fact he didn't
say much anyway unless he was asked
questions. lie had BY this time made
up his mind that he had rather live IN
large city than in Putnam, say one
about the size Of Cleveland. He will
have his wish for at ~ Thursday
John started back home.