Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1883-08-17
A QUEER CASE.
A Long Walk Of Forty nes-The Fathers
Pursuit and the Arrest-Stories
of All Concerned.

A most singular case is pending in Jus.
tice Peterman's court, the outline of which
we will know Saturday. It is a case in
which John S. POwelson, boy Of twenty
years, is accused of having kidnapped his
half brother, Charlie Powelson, lad
scarcely ten years. The story is singu-
lar one, and is given by the small boy, sup
plemented by his father. +. Powelson is
farmer living within three miles OF Board
tree Tunnel, forty miles out the Baltimore
road He has been married twice, and
John and Charlie are sons by his first
and second wife respectively. On
Monday afternoon the father went to
little distance, with threshing machine
and when he returned, at night. he learn
ed that Charlie had disappeared with John.
Suspecting all was not right, he mounted
his horse and rode to Cameron, arriving
there at midnight. By enquiry he learn
ed two boys had passed through there on
the railroad track, heading for Wheeling.
Boarding freight train, he came to Wheel
ing on the search. He had q daughter
living at West Liberty and suspecting the
pair had made for there, he hired team
from John Rine and started for
there. On the road he met a huckster
..smed Robert Miles, to whom he told the
story. He then went on TO West Liberty,
but heard nothing of the BOYS and come
back. In the meantime, Miles had come
in. and passing through Fulton he met two
boys who answered the descrl ption given,
and detained them until the father ar
rived. He at once pronounced them his
sons, and brought them to this city yester-
day evening about o'clock. He went 10
Capt Bennett, who directed him TO Justice
peterman, where he swore out warrant
for John S. PowelsoH, charging him with
kidnapping his brother. The Justice com.
mitted the accused to Jail, in default Of
| 81 600 bond, for hearing at 10 o clock to-
morrow morning.
Charlie Powelson, the alleged kidnapped
| boy, tod the following story: He was com.
| ing home from school on Wednesday eve.
| ming. and had just come out of the woods,
when he met John going in the direction
| of Bolton. He asked where he was going
and John said; I'm going to Bolton and
| coming right back again. Come and 90
with me-" Charlie consented and they
! started. They walked on and on, Charlie
| asking II they were not near Bolton and
John saying constantly that they were not
| near there yet. In this wsy they walked
all night and traversing forty miles reached
Wheeling before daylight yesterday morn.
| ing. They passed through this city and
we're gong beyond Fulton where they were
detained by the huckster and held until
| The father arrived This is the boys story
| and it must be said it contains at least
| trie OF romance.
Last night a REGISTER reporter called on
John at the Jail and obtained his version.
John denies all kidnapping intention and
says the boy followed him of his own
| accord. He says he was falsely accused Of
| having stolen a watch from a man named
| Hagar at Boardtree, and determined to
leave there until it bad blown over. When
| he started he met his half brother, Charlie,
who insisted on going with him, saying he
| would follow him il not permitted 70 &C.
company him. John says Charlie wanted
to leave home, which was not altogether
agreeable to him.
This makes up the singular case, which
contains some improbable features. The
examination will take place Saturday
when the facts will doubtless come out.