The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1920-04-24
BOY COVERED WITH
MEASLES ESCAPES
FROM DETENTION
Another Episode in Career
of Two Youthful Des-
peradoes.
THEY ARE BIG PROBLEM
And Boy Who Was. III May
Become Seriously . /.
Sick.

d
Last night in the wee small hours
a thiniy clao, presumably barefooted
lad about eight years of age, by name
William Childers, covered thickly
with measles, crawled through, a
ragged hole in "a wooden door in the
rear room of the Detention quarters
at the Salvation Army and escaped
to parts unknown. Along with him
went another youngster not much
older, Tony Donifero. The third re-
matned behind and this mornig he
said no one can persuade him to leave
because he likes Salvation Army
headquarters just fine. He was all
lowedsout in the yard to play, where
he ramained all morning, while Cap4
tain Pickering gave the Detention
rooms thoroughly drastic cleaning.
The boy woh remained behind is 8
brother to Tony and is called Nick
Donifero. g9
All three boys have already had a
careery3of wickedness which hasn't
been duplicated in this city for some
time. They were first caught before
daylight about ten DAYS ago on the
Monong ahela bridge with stolen
goods N tiieir poasss ION ana spent
tine femafndsT of the might az The pos
lice sfafion their sobs and walls
reaching he street. Later they were
eau ght stealing oran yes and were
promptl sent to the Detention. rooms
pending further Investigation into
their cases. 1.
When Mayor Conway was nform-
ed this morning that they had escapS
ed he was at a Aoss what! to do with
them. he advised Chief Moran to pick
them up again and bring them to
him, and expressed the opinion that
boys as bad as they very evidently
were should be. in jail, though jail
sentence for lads so young. worried
him TO some extent The boys are
too young for the Reform school and
there seems to be no place where they
can be kept out of mischief. Some
very wise heads In the city are very
much concerned over the case and
are working on the problem today.
AS soon as possible 1t will he deter
mined what shall be done with the
boys.
Captain and Mrs. Pickering were
not aware that the boys had escaped
until this morning when they found
the back door broken at the bottom
where a piece Of iron had been used
to break the lower panel partly out.
A very small hole, was made and
through this the boys escaped. They
can get through anything, no matter
how small" said Mrs. Pickering. II
never saw such boys%
The youngsters have led bith Mrs.
Pickering and the captain a merry
life during their stay. They threat
ened to burn the place down, break
1t down and entirely destroy 1t as far
as was possible. They pulled up the
floor covering and started Sbon fires
with papers, getting matches in an
une8pIainable manner. They broke
the windows and kicked up the fur
niture. They made pig pen of their
quarters in addition.
This morning Mrs. Pickering said
she didn't know how the Childers boy
escape death in his condition. He
was covered with measles and had
been kept in bed-his clothes taken
from him TO keep him there. Not
having any clothes, he must have es-
scapod very nearly naked, though Nick
I sUonifero who refused to go, said his
brother Tony had loaned him some
Of his. He must have gone barefoot"
said Mrs. Pickering, for he had no
/ shoes and there weren't any extra
ones for him TO wear"
AS cold as it was last night, II is
felt,tha the Childers lad will be for
tunate if he, escapes without serious
consequences.