The New York herald., 1874-08-01
"DEACON HARRY, MY SON."
The Stolen Boy Seen in Public in Two
POpulOuS Towns.
A Sad Story of Infantile Suffering
and Sorrow.
THE sOBBING CRY FOB MAMMA


che general public OF the utter ineniciency OF the
Philadelphia police IL may be found in the strange
circumstances which am now about to make
public for the first time. The mythical story OF
''Fancy Bu.n so far as can see contains few facts
worthy OF consideration. Maniiestly incorrect as
regards the "mysterous teamn OF horses the
''strange man and woman 1t has been the means
Of bringing q detective and HERALD correspond
ent here. Out OF the great mass OF dross l have
been able to slft some OF the best circumstan-
tial evidence ever have seen in proof OF the
belief that within ten days OF the kidnapping OF
the boy he was seen by many persons in the public
streets OF Allentown and Mauch Chunk. l do not
md anybody whose word is worthy OF credence
who connects the strange man having possession
OF the chlld In any way with the carriage and its
three occupants.
THE KIND oP A MAN HE Is.
"Fancy Blll' Is man of many characteristics, but
chief among all seems to be his admiration for
hyperbOe. de Is good talker, but in the same
way as he affects velvet coats, bogus jewels and
other evidences OF great wealth, does he reve In
high sounding adjectives and bad English. He is
well gauged by the immense jewelled cross which
adorns his shirt front. If 1t were OF diamonds 1t
would be cheap at $4,000 but it is paste, no
one except Fancy Bill" would consent to wear IT.
he may best be described the historical o'Cala-
han portrayed himself on the field of Waterloo.
els Private O'Callahan in the ranks ?" shouted
the Duke OF Wellington in a voice OF thundeE-ac-
Cording to the worthy O'Canahan.
"He is, my Lord" answered an de-de-camp.
''Then let the battle begin"
FANCY BILL AS AN AUTHOR.
The foundation for Bills story rests in the fact
that q boy had been seen as shall hereafter de-
scribe, and Immediately, together with much
other extraneous verbiage, Bill saddles to it the
story OF "a mysterious carriage two men and a
woman.n Ten days after the whole subject had
been talked over by the quiet citizens OF Allen
town Bill seated himself at his desk, and, after
much tribulation indited letter to the PhIlade-
phis police, in which he very modestiy stated that
. child had been brought to his tonsorial palace TO
have "hts mare kut" and that he was the man las
had kut It." l am thus apparently severe
William Able because he Is wholly TO
blame for the weary, rhankless journey OF Lieu
tenant Kraut, who has traversed all the neighbor
ang country in search OF this ''mysteriousr car
riage, whose existence, now that know who Is
the author OF the story, ceases to be any mystery
whatever. cannot find any other reason for its
existence save in "Fancy Bill'sn Imagination. l
have been accused by some OF the Philadelphia
news ~ papers OF uniairness toward the police.
have chasused "Bill" IN TINS manner because
wish 10 show my sympathy Tor any set OF men who
could be deceived by HIM.
THE FATAL BLUNDER.
LIDO not wholly forgive the police for not tele-
graphing the loss OF the child to every town in
Eastern PENNSYLVANIA; for | am now morally salts
ned that had they done the BOY would nave
been found In Allentown on the day which shall
mention. The foolish, silly surveillance to which
tie Philadelphia press submitted, when ordered
by the police TO desist ir0m printing tue news in
this case, resulted, according TO citizen OF Allen
town, Mr. AOhr, in the widespread belief that the
child had been found and restored to his parents.
several Gays after this child was seen IN Allen
sown and was taken away y 70 asnoa CHUNK @ "a man
about SIX years old, and the man does not CORE
spond with the custodian of the little naxen haired
boy At Allentown. spent some time IN Reading
yesterday searching out this case, and am con.
vinced that the person arrested was different
person from the man VINO visited Allentown and is
the subject oi this letter.
how THE BOY CAME TO ALLENTOWN.
About the 10Th day OF July dusty, travel-staned
man stepped OF the Harrisburg tram at East Penn
Junction. He started to walk up the road to the
Allentown station. he was thick, heavy set,
shaven, his hair unkempt He was dressed in
sOuchy clothes and had over all a long brown
VINO seemed to be utterly bewildered with
the strange circumstances in which he
found himself The man was dark and
repulsive in features; the child was light
and handsome. The man had dark brown
hair. while the childs rlnglets were naxen col
ored The little dimpled face was in strange.
startling contrast with the broad, grim visage Of
mis- Keeper The men at the Lehlgh valley Rail-
road station, ID Allentown, spoke OF the contrast
the man came up along the track, although,
through the oversight OF the police and the inefn
cheney OF the Philadelphia news ~ papers, they
way than a passing event OF slight Importance
UNDER STRICTEST WATCH.
The boy was never allowed to 90 out OF the sight
OF the man. Lett TO himself for moment, while
the man went to the ticket window to make an in
4ury tue little boy laid himself down on the plat.
1Orm and began TO cry piteously. At the same
time he was heard to sob the words, Mamma,
mamma Some men who were near by approached
the cnld, but before they could lift HIM the ap-
parent father walked rapidly out, and, rudey
taking the child from them, bore him across the
street to the Island House, kept by Mr.. Scholl.
Here the DOy Kept under no
lance. All the men who were present at the time
unite in saying that the child acted as II he were
under the influence OF some mild oplate
THE CHILD wAIP.
Either from fear or some other cause, it is GER
tain that the child seemed TO approach the man
with a noticeable feeling OF distrust- 1t was ap-
parent 70 all that the Child q stranger 70 the
suit Of Clothes Tor the he child the man Carried T the
boy into q street and came TO town.
Here, TOO strange to say, the pair became at once
obJecs Of curiosity, They could readily have been
arrested had any one known that the Ross boy
was still missing The man seemed to be utterly
undecided where to go or where he wanted to 60.
He impressed several men as a person without
definite purpose or oewiloered oy some great re-
sponsibliIty whicn he had taken upon himself. He
sat down upon the steps OF Mr. p j. Mohr's NIL
llne-y store. After little while ne stepped Into
that place and asked for ready made child's suit.
M hohr states mat the boy was certainly 10 need
of something OF the SORT for he was very dirty and
III kept Mr.. Mohr did not have any and referred
;be man to the store OF Mrs. Gouldin, No COS Ham
iton street. fhither the man proceeded, carrying
the child. still no team OF horses still no mys-
ferrous carriage, still no strange woman. Alas Ior
The story Of Fancy Blll' and the police
WHY THE HAIR WAS CUT.
Prom MISS Griescmer, clerk, heard with ex-
ceeding mnuteness the story OF the boys visit to
tins store, and give ner story uTther on, In con-
nectoD with all other interviews which have Oh
tanned. The lacts are that the boy was measured
ano suit OF clothes was made for him. The man
made several contradictory statements, but II
was evident that he had not an article OF chill
dreD's clothing with mm He certainly did not
possess any travelling bag. The condition OF the
boy was repulslve beyond description. His face
wzs covered with mud anu coal smoke. His cloth
not been undressed lor week. And now
We nave very important isct lt was
suggested that before he had his new
eiOthes put on the child should be
washed up. IL was. OF course, the suggestion of a
lady. The boys face and nands were cleaned but
10 CONT his hair was found 10 be utterly mposs.
ble. IL was tangled beyond all hope OF straight
eDIng. lady then suggested that 1t would have
10 De cat, as IL never could be got straight
The man who had carefully prevented the boy
from answering questions by interruptlng the