Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1889-11-09
STOLEN YEARS AGO.
Nine Years of Sorrow for a
Wisconsin Man.
HIS BOY STOLEN FOR REVENGE.

A Telegram from Los Angel - That May
Bring Joy to a Stricken Household
The Story of Little willie Dtckinson's
Disappearance from Commonwealth,
wis-The Mother Insane from Grief
aud the Father Despsiring-A Clue
That Looks Promising.
BEssEMER, Mich, 9 Long lost Willie w.
Dickinson, whose m 'lancholy fate has been
a mystery for years, may at this moment he
living in Los Angeles Cal The following
telegram was received here vest erday after
from Los Angeles: "A nevsboy arres ted
here for vagrancy AMI giving the name Of
Willie W. d ckinson is believed TO be the
son Of W. G. Dickinson, a rich mining man
ager of Commonwealth Wis Dckinsons
6-year-old boy was stolen eight years ago by
men who had a grudge against his father.
The lost boys photograph tallies closely
with the boy now in custody here, and the po-
lice have wired he father at Besss mer Mich
Missing for Nine Years.
Willie W. Dickinson disappeared from
Commonwealth nearly nine years ago, and
though extensive search was made and
standing reward of So 900 offered for his re-
covery, no trace of him was ever found. Mr..
bsCAiusOn was n wealthy ntn, anu LOOK du
active part in the warfare upon the notori-
Gus dens Of northern Wisconsin He caused
the arrest OF Jack Mshoney and ssveral other
Of the worst Characters who infes ted that
region, and pressed them SO hard that they
threatened to get even" One day Willie
Dickinson was missing Every effort was
made to find him. and Mr. Dickinson spent a
fortune in the search
The Hesrt-Broken Mother Insane.
Several years later the mystery was ap-
parently solved by the finding of bows
skeleton in a cave, the theory being that Mr.
| D,ckinson's enemies had imprisoned the boy
in the dungeon and kept him there till he
died. This belief was dispellsd, however,
by the examination Of the teeth of the skele-
ton, which were not those Of Willie Dickin
son. The missing boys heart broken mother
bore up bravely, but the strain was toe
much, and her mind gave way.
| False Clue Traced Down.
Hope OF finding the stolen child was re-
viyed year or two late- by reports that q
man had been seen in Virginia with boy
| who resembisd Willie Dickinson. The de.
! scription complete, even To the coat
worn by Willie at the time Of his disappear
anoe, Of course making allowance for age
| and wear. Tue man, II was said, avoided
towns and cities, and the boy seemed afraid
| OF him and would not talk with strangers
Detectives were at once put on the track of
the couple, and they were followed from
place to place through Virginia, West Vir-
ginia, and Psnnsy lvaua, and after many
dissppolntments wers fOu d The resem.
blHnre of the boy TO Willie Dickinson wa:
indeed remarkable, but he was not Willie
| The Father Gives Up Hope.
Several other GUS We're followed with
the same result, until al last Mr.. Dickinson
broken in spirit by his sorrow, becams re
signed TO the belief that his stolen boy woulC
never be found. Il the Los Angeles boy
proves TO be Willie Dickinson there will be
general rejoicing, not only here and at Mr.
Dickinson's former home, but Throughout
the Union wherever thu sad story Of pool
Willie Dickinson Is known