The Washington times., 1917-11-13
boy DETECTIVE"
FINDS M|SS|NGLAD
AFTERLONG CHASE

After following a clue for more
than $50 miles from Washington to
Selma, N. c., Russell NJ. Hadaway. sew
enteen.year-oId detective" who lives
at l13 X street northwest, today told
The Times the story OF his success
full hunt for Clarence Reid. fourteen
year-old choir boy, who had been
missing from his home, 919 Twelfth
street northwest, for the past twenty
three days
Young Hadaway's discovery of Clar-
ence came after the police OF several
North Carolina towns had failed to
locate the missing Washington boy.
Today the young detective is back
on his regular job in the auditors
office OF the Washington Terminal
While receiving congratulations at
every turn for his clever detective
work. young Hadaway told The Times
about his hunt for Clarence.
Chances Seem Small.
At the very beginning the possi-
bility of finding Clarence seemed
dark.
The boy detective, although three
years older than the boy he was
hunting. was only a few inches taller.
But that was only a minor matter
when It was considered that he had
only seen Clarence once before in his
life. The boys mothers were friends.
'I left the Union Station deter
mined that would find Clarence for
the sake OF his heartbroken mother.
1t was midnight when the train
pulle5 out. was bound for Enfield,
". c., and had with me a newspaper
picture Of Clarence" said the boy de-
tective.
There was only one clue. That
was the letter that Clarence sent his
parents from Enfield, which was pub
lished in The Times. Clarence signed
that letter Police Court and gave
himself away by adding a postscript
saying that he was all right and not
to worry about him.
Sunday morning / arrived In En-
field and went Immediately to the
police. They knew nothing about
Clarence and neither did any one else
In Enfield. or course, expected dis
like this and went on
to the next town, Kenley. N. C.
The same story here. and Sunday
evening l went on the train to Selma,
which was about sixty miles from
Enfield. Here the head of police,
called the Big Chief. said he didn't
know anything about Clarence.
Neither did the deputy, who was the
only other officer of the law in town.
Finds Missing Boy.
But by constant inquiry found a
man named Edward Gooch. who kept
a cafe. The cafe was closed. but I
found him at home and showed him
the picture Of Clarence. He said he
had a boy working for him. named
George Green. who was then at the
candy store
"Just as reached the candy store
saw a boy coming out / approach
ed him and said, Hello Clarence. do
you know meT
He began to cry.
81 told him that was going to
take him home to his mother. but he
said that he didn't want TO go home.
He said he wanted to work for his
own living. He was making $3.50 a
week in Gooch's cafe. Nothing ! said
would persuade him to come with me,
until ! showed him a newspaper
which said his mother was Ill be-
cause of his disappearance.
This got him.
HE cried some more and promised
me he would come back with me.
I'VE got tickets at the station and
,aught the midnight train. had work.
ID twenty-four hours on the case. We
.eached Washington yesterday morn
ng." concluded the young detective.
Clarence Reid admits today that he Is
glad he Is home again. He told his
mother that he had gone to Richmond. |
hen to Emporia, Va, where he Joined
carnival troupe and fed the horses. Then /!
le said he went further south into North |
Carolina. He admitted sending the let
er from Enfield. then walked to Flor |
,nce, and Finally to Selma. where young |
overlook him.