Evening star., 1960-07-30
CHILDREN HIDDEN FOR II YEARS
Curiosity Undimmed by Ordeal
TEcUMsEH. Ontario, July 30

TECUMSEH. Ontario, July 80
(AP).-What do three young
sters who have been hidden
away in a house for II years
think of when first released?
Who's going to be the next
president of the United States
:. where the Milwaukee
Braves stand hockey teams
and what other kids look
like
At least that's what the
three children of Mrs. Shirley
Leach, 38, talked about when
they were released by police
from an 11-year confinement.
Their knowledge of the out
side world-and curiosity about
it - came largely from watch
ing television.
The case came to light Thurs
day when one of the children,
15-year-old Gordon Dickerson
sneaked out Of the house while
his mother was at a dentists.
Feared Landlords
The mother had kept the
youngsters concealed from the
outside world since the nous
ing shortages following World
War II, when she feared land
lords would not rent to her
with six children.
For a long time we couldn't
see out" Gordon said after his
release. There were boards
over the window. But one day
I made a hole in one of the
boards and we saw lots Of
things like cars. That's how
/ know about streets and
things.
When I got downstairs
Thursday l hid behind a pipe
in the kitchen and then I went
out the back door.
II sat on the grass for
awhile. 1t felt funny. didn't
want to go on the streets be-
cause I know cars will kill
you. There are sidewalks but
I didn't know where they were.
l ran down the back lane to a
house and all of a sudden
a woman opened the door.
Accepted Cookie
"She talked to me and start
ed to come closer. I was afraid
and ran away a bit. but then
she gave me a cookie and
came in"
The woman, Mrs. Forest
Richards, called the police. =
And after IL years. officials
said, the three appeared nor
NAL except for their size. They
are Gordon and his two sisters
Connie, Is, and Glenda. 10.
The boy stands only 3-feet H.
inches tall and the girls appear
small for their ages. They are
children by Mrs. Leach's first
marriage, as are three other
older children who never dis
closed the family secret.
The three youngsters were
allowed the run of their two
story frame house which they
shared with Is cats.
Constable Gus Newly, who
was called to the house by Mrs.
Richards, said the children
broke out in smiles when they
saw him.
They were just glad to see
somebody different" he said.
They all wanted to talk"
Clean and Well Dressed
He said the children were
clean and well-dressed. They
had plenty of clothes, toys, a
televiSion set and books. and
there was plenty of food in the
house.
They were right up to date
on everything" Mr.. Newly
said. Connie wanted to know
who is going to be the next
President of the United States
and she knew all about baseball
and hockey"
Gordon is a tan of the Mil
waukee Braves and appeared
well-versed in baseball matters.
Police said Mrs. Leach and
her husband. Donald, an in
terror decorator and painter,
appeared relieved the case was
discovered. The mother told of
f1cers it began in 1949 after di-
vorce ended her first marriage
and she and the children
moved from Detroit. Mich, to
Windsor. Ontario. She said be-
cause it was difficult to find
housing for a large family she
told a landlord she had only
three children. A year later she
moved to TecumSeh and she
told the same tale. BY 1858,
when the family bought their
own home, the mother said she
was too embarrassed to tell her
friends about the other three
children.
Outside Only Briefly
So for the II years the
youngsters lived inside the |
house, only getting outside for
a few minutes at night.
Child welfare officials said g
the youngsters hadn't had any
medical attention for five years. n
There has been no decision on
what will be done about the q
case. The parents have agreed {
to let the children be taken to v
a hospital.
They won't be returned to
the same conditions they were
found in - cnid thn ,..nlfn.A or