The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1894-08-16

Chamberlain, S. D., Aug. ia story
which would furnish the foundation
for a novel is told by Fred Hans, of
Omaha, who, a few days ago, went to
the Black Hills for the purpose OF iden-
flying a young man whom he believes
to be a younger brother, kidnapped
from their home in Saunders county,
Neb., eighteen years ago. While in the
Black Hills, Mr.. Hans visited Rapid
City and told his remarkable story.
The Hans family, during 1875 and
1876, resided in Saunders county where,
upon one occasion, his father was the
principal witness on the part of the
state against a man named Willard
Randall, who was convicted and sent
to the state penitentiary for period of
ten years for cutting the throat of
woman. The father of Willard Ran
dali was considerably worked up over
the part old m4n Hans played in the
prosecution of his son, and threatened
on more than one occasion to make him
|Hans) suffer for the part he took in
the prosecution of his boy. Hans had a
number of children, among them being
Ia boy something over one year old.
One day the little one was kidnapped,
and for some time no trace of him
could be found. Randall three weeks
later committed suicide, leaving a
statement that he had taken the boy
and disposed Of him to the Indi-
ans. Subsequent search revealed
the fact that the statement
made by Randall prior to his death
was untrue in regard to the boy being
among the Indians, as it was ascer-
tanned, after diligent search, that Ran
dali had made trip to Cheyenne, Wy
I'LL No n
pearance Of the boy on July %, 1876,
land there disposed of him.
Mr. Hans stated that while in Rapid
lCity, on July II, 1898, he met Johnny
Hart, who resides on Spring Creek,
whom he at once recognized as his long
lost brother, and so informed him. So
sure was he that ne told young Hart
that he had a scar on the back of his
head. from a burn. Upon Hart taking
off his hat, the scar was found exactly
as described by Hans. After question
ling Johnny about his parents and resi-
ldence, he became convinced that he
had found what he had looked for for
SO many years. He then went to Chey-
lenne, and after diligent inquiries found
that John Harris family resided at
Cheyenne at the time his brother was
kidnapped, and traced to that city. and
that Mr.. Hart was engaged in freight
ling in the Black Hills. He traced the
family from Cheyenne to Fort Pierre,
and back to Spring Creek in the Black
Hills, where they located on a ranch in
1879, and have since resided. From
Ineighbors there he learned that the boy
was about two years old when the
family established their home there.
according to the story told by Mr..
Hans the boy would now be in his
nineteenth year, while Johnny Hart
says he is but II. This and other things
assisted in further complicating mat
tiers. 1t was agreed between Hans and
Hart that the young man should ac-
company Hans to Crawford, Neb.,
where the mother of Hans resides, and
there learn if possible the truth of the
matter.
John Hart, who has acted the part
of father to the young man above
mentioned, declares that the young
man is his son, and that there are two
women living in his vicinity who knew
| the boy before he was able to walk
Great interest has been created owing
to the peculiarities of the case and the
statement of Mrs. Hart is looked for
ward to with great interest.