The weekly intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1891-1901, 1892-02-13
STOLEN BOY RETURNED.
DARING CONNECTICUT KID
NAPPERS CAUGHT.
Year Old Ward Ferris Waterbury,
OF Long Bridge, Conn, Stolen by
His Cousin and Held for
SO, o Ransom.

NEW YORK, Feb. 4. Daring k~ldnappers
stole Ward Ferris Waterbury, the son,
aged 8 years, OF Charles p. Waterbury, a
well-known farmer of Long Ridge, Conn,
near the New York line, and held him for
81, 0J0 ransom. This was Monday. Early
this morning the lad was returned to his
distracted parents.
In many respects the case is similar to
the famous abduction Of Charley Ross near
Philadelphia in 1874. The child was stolen
within an eighth of O mile of his home.
while on his way to school. So well
planned was the abduction that practical
ly no trace OF the kidnappers was left be.
hind after they had gone a mile and u half.
1t all happened in a thickly settled and re-
spectacle community.
The father received a letter from the
men who had his child threatening that il
he did not promptly pay the money they
would kill the lad and intimating that
they would also wreak vengeance on his
head.
The demand of the kidnappers, who
signed themselves 1.-THE River Boys" was
that the money should be paid TO them at
midnight last night on a bridge near Bed
ford, which Is on the dividing line between
Connecticut and Westchester county, N.
Y. 1t is far from q railroad station and
out of reach Of the telegraph.
The father of the boy started to keep
the appointment with 81, 900 In his pocket,
all he could raise in such a short time.
Deputy Sheriffs Howard Pugsley and
Steven Hart of White Plains started for
the scene late last night, having received
word from Mr.. Waterbury. They were
to protect the father and If possible ap.
prehend the ~kidnappers.
About fifty armed mems pent all Monday
night securing the country for the boy
with lanterns.
The stolen boy was brought home at 8
o'clock this morning by John Close OF
Stanwich, Conn. Mr.. Waterbury was at
home, having just returned from his trip
to Miller's bridge. where he had been
summoned by the letter signed "River
Boys" He had gone alone TO the spot, In
accordance with the demands of the letter
writers. After remaining there until after
1880 O'Clock he came to the conclusion that
the kidnappers had been frightened away.
Then he drove home.
Father md mother were endeavoring tc
console each other in their misery, when
the door bell rang aud John Close entered
with the missing boy. AS Mr.. Waterbury
opened the door in answer to the ring,
Ward sprang into mis- fathers arms and
then into his mothers, who had followed
her husband to the door. This was a very
affecting scene.
John Close was warmly thanked by Mr.
and Mrs. Waterbury for bringing Ward
back. When the excitement had some.
what subsidized Mr.. Close told how he had
come to get Ward. Mr.. Close is a clam
digger. He is q man of humble circum-
stances. He lives at Stanwich, Conn.
convenient to his clam beds. Al . O'Clock
this morning there was a loud knocking al
his front door. The knocking aroused him
He opened the door and saw q little boy
standing outside.
81 am Ward Waterbury," said the boy,
land I want to go home" Mr.. Close
asked Ward to come in and he did so.
He then told Mr.. Close his story.
He said a man had brought him to the
house on his back and had told hin
to go and knock on Mr.. Closes door
Then the man ran away. Mr.. Close had
heard of the abduction of Ward Water
bury and he decided to a Ward to his
parents Immediately. So he hituhed uI
his horse and drove to Mr.. Waterbury's
house at L~ongridge, arriving there at :
o'clock.
The boy then told how he had been ap'
preached by two tall, plainly dressed meu
about 4 o'clock Monday afternoon
as he was playing near the school
house. They asked him to show
them the way to a nearby place
and he consented. After he had gone a
short distance and as soon as they were
out of sight Of the school the men told
him roughly that he must go with
them and picked him up and started Il
the woods. He did not know where
or how far he went but after dark thai
night he was taken to q small house where
he was kept until last night when he was
taken to the gate of Mr.. Closes place anc
left.