Evening Republican, Volume 17, Number 96, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 22 April 1913 — FATHER AND SONS WALKING TO MICHIGAN [ARTICLE]

FATHER AND SONS WALKING TO MICHIGAN

Youngest Sou Was Epileptic and Unable for the Hardships Ijnposed by Distracted Parent.

A telephone message was received by Deputy J3neriff Grant Monday afternoon to ; the effect that a man and two fjoys were traveling through the country and that the man seemed to Tie beating the youngest son. Deputy Grant procured an automobile and went to the country, northwest of Parr, and there overtook the man and boys. The mgn explained that he was walking from Paxton, 111., to Byron, Mich., and that the boy had fits of epilepsy and had that day suffered three of the spells. There were no marks on the hoy to indicate that he had been abused, hut it was plain to see that his condition was such that he could not endure the hardships of the long Walk. His father, past 60 years of age, was algo crippled frdm rheumatism and the other boy was thin and not strong enough for such an overland trip. In sacks the father and the oldest boy carried their earthly possessions. The father had 45 cents and each of the boys had a dollar.

Mr. Grant decided to bring all to town and present the matter to Trustee Wood. The hoy suffered another epileptic attack after getting into the automobile and seemed to. be afraid that he was going to be taken from his father. The father told a_pitiful story, if it can be believed, after his arrival in town. He said that fifteen months ago he went with his wife and two sons to St. Louis, from Byron, Mich., and procured work in a glass factory. His wife died suddenly a month later and for fourteen months he had been doing all that a father could for the children. He was employed at $1.75 a day and the oldest boy, 16 years old, hut quite small, got $5 a week, but it cost each $4.75 per week for board, which included the care of the epileptic son. The father said lie worked at Alton, 111., under the same conditions and saved enough money to get as far as Paxton on his way back to Michigan. They left Paxton Friday evening and had traveled as far as the J. L. Babcock farm, near Parr, by Monday noon. While at the sheriff’s office the man, who gave his name as W. W) Castello, showed a great amount of affection-for-thc epileptic son, who was 13 years of age, and when asked why he did not place the boy in a home for epileptics, said that he could not think of parting with him. Told that the boy had much better be in a home than traveling about the country, his father agreed, but said that he would have a permanent home on a farm owned by his brother when he reached Byron, Mich. He willingly accepted the proffer of aid in getting to his destination and Trustee Wood bought tickets to Elkhart and it is expected that authorities there wilt send them along toward their destination. While the sincerity of the man remains in doubt, he certainly was a good actor if he feigned his affection for the small boy. He was a man of intelligence and his act of dragging the boys about seemed unworthy of itis active mind. The small boy certainly presented a pitiful appearance as he emerged from the influence of the spasm of epilepsy.