Despite being only ten years old, Charlie King of Orchard Street, Blandford was much travelled. With his passion for trains, he had visited many destinations by rail including Plymouth, Bournemouth, Dover, Templecombe, London, Bath and Weymouth. Only problem was that he made these journeys on his own and without a ticket. In total, it was reckoned Charlie made as many as sixteen such rail trips without paying his fare.
When asked for his rail ticket he would admit he had none and would explain that his mother had given it to the train guard at Blandford. Whichever was his destination he would say he was travelling to meet his uncle. He claimed he was encouraged by other children at his school to go on his railway adventures. Because of his exploits, Charlie King became particularly well known to Sergeant Underwood of the Blandford Police.
Matters came to a head when in December 1877 he had to appear before Blandford Magistrates, the Viscount Portman and James John Farquharson. He was charged with stealing three shillings (15p) from Miss Waldon who also resided in Orchard Street. Young Charlie admitted to the offence.
Sadly his mother admitted she could do nothing with him. She said she was a single mother with only a small income. Every time he went on his travels she had to pay for his return rail ticket to come home which she could not really afford.
The Magistrates made an order for Charles King, also sometimes known as Charles Brown, to be sent to the workhouse with a view to procuring a place for him in an industrial institution. These were Victorian-era institutions for destitute or neglected children under 14 years to learn a trade.
It looks like things worked out well in the end for Charlie. In 1884, he married Alice Reeves in Blandford Parish Church having trained as a bricklayer. In 1901, he was a family man who still lived in Blandford.
(Blandford Express - 8th December 1877.)
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