A YOUTHFUL " EXPLORER."

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXII, Issue 95, 7 May 1900, Page 2

A YOUTHFUL " EXPLORER."

i A chobby-faced little boy named • Charles Stevens, aged 10, the son cf a plata-layer living at 170, Wandsworth Road, was brought before Mr. Francis at the South-western Police Cjurt, London, led by his mother, as being beyond the control of his parents. Great amusement was created in Court bytheappearanceoftholittloßhip.whose diminutive stature almost concealed him from the view of the Mngistrate, and by the stolid manner in which he surveyed his surroundings. Tho inothur stated that neither she nor I her husband could control the boy. He was always running away from home and staying away for weeks at a time.—Mr. Francis: He is about the size of a mouse. I shouldn't think he could run far.—Police-sergeant 61 W assured His Worship the boy was a regular wanderer. There was hardly a station in the police district where the boy had not been taken in after being found wandering about the streets. He had been to Dorking, Richmond, Thames Ditton, and a hundred other places. His father possessed about 500 telegrams and letters relating to the discovery of the boy by the police,—Mr. Francis: Does be walk to theso places? —Witness: Yes, sir.—Mr. Francis (to the boy): How long did it take you to walk to Dorking?—Tho question was repsato-1 by the assistant gaoler, but the boy maintained an obstinate silence, —Mr. Francis: 1 think a few years' plica supervision would be tho best thing for him (laugher).—The mother siid the boy had baon beyond their control for the pist four yovs.—Mr. Francis : What, uncoutrolhb'e at six ? Well, he'd better go to the workhouse for a wof;k.—Tbe urchin marched .htoly throu-.'!) tho yi V.* J....H 1 looking the ve y pkturj, of u mi ].,«; j John Bull."