The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1892-06-21
HELD FOR RANSOM.
A Young Child of Wealthy Parents is Kid
mapped and Held.

naped and Held.
Detective Shackleford unfolds a story
that would have done credit to the time
when outlaws fourished like the green bay
tree.
The boy who was kidnapped is Charley
Williams, a twelve-year-old youngster.
The boys parents are dead, and for three
years he has made his home with his grand
parents.
His grandfather is e. T. Williams. of
LincOlntOn, n. c., one of the wealthiest
planters in the Tarhee State Mr.. Will
Hams owns Il magnificent plantation about
fifteen miles from Linconton, where he has
splendid home.
Young Charley Williams, being the only
child of his only son, the grandfather gave
him every care and attention, The young
boy, bright and cheerful, was the pride and
life of the home.
One day, in the early part of last March,
Mr.. Williams drove over to Lincolnton on
some business. With him was his young
grandson, Charley, who always accompan-
led him on such trips.
separated from his grandfather soon after
Lincolnton was reached, but the old man
went on about his business, feeling no UNI
easness, as the boy knew the town well;
But when he came to start home the
boy was still missing, and no one could tell
anything about him.
Becoming alarmed Mr.. Williams began
vigorous search for the boy, and soon
all the town was on the qui vive.
But search as they might young Charley
Williams could not be found.
In the most inexplicable and mysterious
manner possible he had disappeared from
the town.
No one had seen him leave.
Without clue to work upon, the search
seemed hopeless.
A sleepless night was spent by the dis
turbed grandparent of the missing boy.
With the return of another day he resumed
his search with renewed energy, however.
The second days search was as fruit
less as the first, and fearing the worst
even murder-Mr. Williams offered the
third day after the disappearance, a reward
of 81 900 for the recovery of his lost grand
son.
This he advertised widely, and lost no
opportunity to get on track OF little
Charley.
Detective agencies in Asheville, N. c.,
and Rishmond, Va, We're brought into use,
and worked hard to find some trace of the
boy.
But they could never get even clue to
lead them in their work.
But for their great love for the boy his
grandparents would have given up the
search in despair.
About the middle of May Mr.. Williams
wrote to Detective Shackleford, the At
lanta shadOwer of criminals, and asked
him to work on the case.
Three weeks ago he sent Detective Ev-
erett, one of his best men, to Llncolnton,
with instructions TO find the boy.
In n few days he learned something at
Lincolnton, which put him on the scent.
PIE found that on that March day two
rough tramp-looking men were seen pass
through Iincontbn. Afterwards some
one had seen q small boy with those two
men.
The detective believing he held the key
to the mystery followed the two men. He
traced them to Charlotte From Charlotte
they had gone to Raleigh. From Raleigh
the men, still having the boy in charge,
had gone to Norfolk, Va.
At Norfolk the detective could trace them
no further. They must be in Norfolk the
detective thought
And he was right!
He found them easily. On bystreet
IN the old Virginia town is fruit stand
and the detective passed by it,
He noticed small youth standing inside
the place with dark faced. tough-looking,
unshaved fellow, that tailed with the de-
scription of one of the men the detective
had been following.
Feeling sure that he had his man De
tective Everett arrested him.: He gave his
name as w. S. Anthony. The young boy
proved to be the missing one.
Overjoyed at being discovered he begged
to be taken home at once That was Tues
day and on that day Detective Everett
telegraphed Detective Shackelford of his
success.
He wired that he was going to Lincoln
ton with his prisoner and the boy, and
hoped to find the other man in short
time.