Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1925-07-13

Living for nearly two months by
his wits, after he was deserted in this
city by his parents according to the
straight forward story which he told
the authorities, a boy giving his
name as Jerry Mcdonald, his age as
IA years, and his former home as
East Boston, although he stated he
now had no home, was apprehended
Saturday afternoon by Officer Leon
Felker of the Augusta police force as
he was stealing cake and two BAN
anas from the back Of a wagon in
Market Square.
The boy, who appears to be not
over nine or ten years of age, told a
pathetic but apparently truthful
story of his abandonment and subse-
quent struggles for existence, and
declared that he was driven to steal
the food from the back of the wagon
because of hunger, as he had not
eaten since the morning of the day
before.
He repeated his story to different
members of the police force without
a change. and when advised to tell
the truth as that would make 1t
easier for everyone, he declared We
hemently that he was telling the
truth. He said that nearly two
months ago his father and mother
and himself arrived in Augusta on
the early morning train which is
known as the milk train" They
went into the station and told him to
wait there while they went to get
something to eat. He saw them enter
an automobile which had two taxi
signs on it, and has not since seen
or heard from them.
After waiting for about an hour
and they did not rRppear he wan
dered down the street in search OF
them but could not locate them. He
had 50 in cash on his person and he
bought food with that. When his
money was all expended he managed
to secure odd jobs to do once IN
while and was able to secure little
food, although he sometimes went
without meals for day or even two.
He had worked for Gage and King,
automobile accessory dealers. once or
twice and they had given him some
food.
Slept on River Bank
He replied in answer to questions
that he had slept much OF the time
in a pile Of railroad ties on the bank
Corporation factory, having made
himself a bed out of dried grass.
When it was rainy he slept in the
old band stand at Capital park, hud-
died under a seat.
When taken into custody Saturday
he was very hungry and ate part of
the cake and one banana. A short
time later he was taken to a restaur-
ont whoro he drank mart of milk
ate three eggs and as many biscuits.
and in fact gorged to such an ex-
tent that he was made i'll.
Falls Into Police Net
A complaint by a man from North
Augusta, who has several times
missed things from the back of his
wagon lead to the capture of the
youngster. Officer Felker watched
the wagon from an office in the Au-
gusta Trust building and noticed the
boy walking about in furtive man.
ner When he thought that no one
was looking, he seized the bag and
box in which the food was placed
and made off with 1t, being taken to
the police station shortly afterward
by the officer.
When questioned with regard to his
parents he said that his fathers name
was Jerry Mcdonald also. and that he
had been employed on a railroad which
runs from Boston to Revere Beach
and other places, which he named. He
said that his mother sold DINNERS for
automobile lights. The youngster de-
clared that his parents had not treated
him well and that his father had come
home intoxicated about once a month.