The Washington times., 1931-06-20
FLAY POLICE
AND BOYS
MOTHER
Bad Psychology to Frighten
Children, Says Probation
Officer; Opinion Unanimous

OIIiOCl OPH''O' S'S''''
CONTINUED From, First PaSe)
was created to cope with such
situations, and we should have
been notified"
New Light on Case
The case took new aspect
this morning when Mayor Walter
Quenstadt of Annapolis, told The
Washington Times that Police
Commissioner r. Lee Waller, who
yestesday reprimanded Mrs. Dor
othy Perry. the child's mother
and Police Chief Richard Hol
liday for confining the child to
a cell. was fully aware Of the
plan to frighten Roger out OF
his desire to run away.
Mr.. Quenstadt said:
81 have made a personal in
quiry into the matter, and
found that Mrs. Perry and the
chief of police arranged the
child's arrest. I further discOv-
cred that Commissioner Waller
was fully aware of the plan,
and had seen the child in the
ceil between and IL o'clock
Wednesday night.
II shall inform Governor
Ritchie of my findings, and
from there the case is out of
my hands. Control of the pO-
lice was taken from me by
the last legislature"
Spent Comfortable Night
Mrs. Perry, the child's mother,
said that she had done everything
possible to break the boys habit
Of running away, and that she
thought the night in a cell would
cure him. It was pointed out
that she sent clean bedclothes
and a pillow to the boy and that
he passed a comfortable night.
Mrs. Perry revealed today how
she spent a sleepless night walk
ing the floor, torn between a de-
sire to have the child released and
an urge to teach him a lesson"
At the same time it also devel-
oped that instead of feeling chas-
tened, the boy is proud of his ad-
venture and is enjoying the hero
worship of his playmateS.
Paced the Floor
Mrs. Perry today was far from
taking the things said by her
critics to heart and continued to
defend her action with the ex-
planation that Roger had a run
away complex. Describing her
own experiences while the child
was in jail, she said:
Il shall never forget the
anxiety of that night. really
believe that it Is the longest 1
ever endured. Several times /
was on the verge Of going down
town and bringing Roger home,
but each time I defeated this
urge in the belief that he will
appreciate his home more in the
future.
"All night. mother and I
paced the floor expecting a call
from the police. Fortunately, it
never came. l hope that / will
never have to go through it
again, but under the same cir
cumStances would not hest
tate. Roger suffered no ill ef-
fects from his nights cOnfine-
ment, and, although he has not
strayed from home since his re.
turn Thursday. he is somewhat
proud of his experience.
Proud of His Stay
"He is still showing pIaymates
what the Jail looked like and
how he conducted himself in
the CELL"
HE has always run away
since he first learned the use
of his legs. Sometimes he is
gone from home for hours, and
I can find no way to keep him
In.
"He has been found trying
to board fishing boats, walking
over railroad treStles, and in
many other dangerous places.
He is a bright child.
THE other day he tried to
buy ticket to New York. OF
course, this was refused at the
station. and we found him
later walking up the tracks.
1t was then that we planned
this night in Jail, and l hope
1t does good"
Boy To Be a Marine
Maybe it's spring. maybe it's
just wanderlust. but most likely
it's just practicing to blaze
bigger and better trail from he
Halls of Montezuma to the shores
Of Tripoli that makes four-year-
old Roger run away.
Roger is going to be marine
officer, he said between sobs to-
day. And if a little boy is going
to grow up to be a marine Of
ficer. perhaps it's best that he
should learn to take care of him
self away from home.
Roger made only one state
ment without tears during his
first interview. The sobs gave
way to a bro d grin when he ex
claimed:
"T slept all night in a real
Jail"
Doctor Sees Way Out
A. nvon,;oofjor of tho hOV will