Missing Boy Makes His Way to New York City, 1946

“14-Year-Old Boy Disappears; Found in New York Today” from the Monday, June 10, 1946, issue of The Robesonian, Lumberton

The anxiety caused by the disappearance of Earl Kinlaw, 14, from the home of his grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Ernest Kinlaw, with whom he lived on Route 5, Lumberton, yesterday about 1 o’clock was allayed with the receipt of a telegram this afternoon by Sheriff E.C. Wade from Police Inspector Martin J. Brown of New York City that the boy is in New York. The family is making arrangements for his transportation home.

Mr. Kinlaw states that Earl, a “quiet youth who never gave any trouble,” left home Sunday shortly after asking his grandfather to go with him to “High Hills,” a spot 3 miles east of Lumberton. When Mr. Kinlaw was unable to accompany him, the boy went off alone. The family became much disturbed when he failed to return by nightfall, and they were in Lumberton today seeking the aid of officers in searching for him when Sheriff Wade received the message giving his whereabouts.

Earl’s mother is dead, and his father, H.B. Kinlaw, lives at Myrtle Beach. It is not known how he got to New York. The message stated that he was “stranded” there.