Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1873-11-22
THE KIDNAPPED BOY.

The following remarkable account of
an atrocity alleged to have been per-
petrated in New York city is copied
from the San Francisco EUening Post.
1t exhibits, if true, an organized system
of kidnapping so revolving and cruel in
every feature as to seem improbable !;
yet the paper named above asserts that
the account is true in every particular.
George F. Staple, the lad who makes
the charges, is q native of Rome, N. Y,
and having @orked as a carpenter in
New YORK city some time ago, after
spendlng few weeks with his mother
in R,ome in May, 1872, he returned here
To get work on the Brooklyn bridge.
Failing in that, he worked for Hugh
ONeill, stair-builder, corner of Co.
lumbia and Congress streets, Brooklyn,
and W. F. Furey, on Van Brunt street,
Brooklyn. About last Christmas his
work gave out. He again went home,
taking his aged mother $500. In May
he returned here, and his experiences
are thus recorded
For some days he walked around
from one carpenter shop to another
without finding anything to do, when,
on the 9th of May, between four and
five o'clock in the afternoon, he found
himself on Water street, having been
inquiring for work at the shops on the
East river side of the city. He had
about determined to give up his search
for the day, when, as he walked along,
u well-dressed man came up briskly be-
hind him and tapped him familiarly on
the shoulders.
Wouldn't you like something to
do ?" said the stranger.
Eyes, sir, replied the lad "that is
just what I have been looking for"
"Well, think you will suit me. /
have been looking for some one to put
in the way of good job. How would
you like to go to San Francisco? ]
have just made big contract to'put up
advertising for a patent medicine out
there, and want to get a smart fellow
to go with me-"
Il should like to go. sir, if the wages
are good. Work seems pretty hard to
get here this spring. What would you
pay me, sir ?"
"I will give you 1876 per month and
pay all of your expenses; so that you
can save all your wages. The pay will
be in gold, too, and you can have nice
little sum when we get through, and
perhaps strike something even better
out there, for there is plenty of money
to be made there by smart man.
Will you go?"
eyes, sir. When do you wish me to
start ?"
"We shall have to get off by Monday
at furthest, Git was Friday but may
have to go by tomorrow night, for the
firm / have contracted with are in a
great hurry"
"Well, sir, can be ready, though L
should like to have time and bid my
mother goodbye. But if can't do
that I can go over to Brooklyn, where I
have been living, and get my clothes
and meet you tomorrow.
Gan right, but you had better come
and get supper with me, as it is pretty
near supper time, and we can talk it all
over"
They were by this time near the cor
ner of Cherry street, into which they
turned, and the kind stranger who had
the big advertising contract for Cali
ifornia led the way to house opposite
the Sailors Home. 1t looked like a
sailor boarding house, and on small
sign bore the words,
"cHARLEs GLEASON, BOARDING AND
LODGING"
Two or three men were lounging
about the door, who looked somewhat
peculiarly at the lad as he passed in.
The stranger, who proved to be Charles
Gleason himself, led the way to small
washroom, which opened off dining
room, where table was set.
"Now, my boy, | suppose you feel a
little dirty, as you have been trarnping
around all day take off your things and
give yourself good wash"
The lad took off his hat, his overcoat
and vest hung them up, and rolling up
Z his sleeves. began to wash. When he
had concluded he turned around for his
clothes.
"Never mind" said Gleason, "I sent
them to the baggage room, where they
will be brushed and be safe. Put or
this till after we get supper, he added,
producing an old monkey jacket.
The boy, though somewhat wonder.
ing, put it on, and Gleason led the way
into the dining-ropm. No one was
there except O man who reminded
Staple Of lunatic, and who seemed
afraid to say word, though he com.
menced grinning in very significant
way, They sat down and had supper,