The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-09-14
STOLEN AND RETAKEN
FIGHT FOR POSSESSION OF FERDr-
yAND WARDS son CLARENCE.
The boy Kidnapped ut the Instigation
of His Father, hut Recaptured and
Given Back tn His Uncle.

THOMPSON. Conn.,, Sept. 1S.-The little
village OF Thompsontown, one mile south OF
here, was excited about ? O'Clock this
morning by a report that Clarence Ward.
the ten-year-old son of Ferdinand Ward
the ex-banker and financier OF New York.
had been kidnapped from the home of his
guardian. Mr.. Frederick ID. Green. The
news spread rapidly. and soon the authori-
ties in all the surrounding towns were
looking for the kidnapers. About s o'clock
this morning, while Clarence was playing
In the yard surrounding the Green resi-
dence with M. Green's daughter. two men
drove up TO the gate, called the boy and
asked him his name. While he stood at
the gate talking. one OF the men got out
of the buggy and, quickly siezing the child.
put him in the carriage and held him there.
The horse was then whipped up and the
kidnapers drove north toward Webster.
Mass, just over the State line. Miss Green
alarmed the household. and her father at
once notified the police in all the surround
ing towns by telephone, and then started
in pursuit of the kidnapers. About 10
O'Clock a message was received here from
Webster announcing that the men had been
arrested there and the boy recovered. He
was soon returned TO Mr.. Green
and the men locked up.
The boy has made his home with his
uncle. Mr.. Green. in Thompsontown since
the death of his mother. While his father
was in Sing Sing, Mr.. Green was appointed
the boys guardian by a New York court
and has charge Of the property left 10 Clar-
ence by his mother. Ferdinand Ward.
since his release from prison. has made
several unsuccessful attempts to gain the
custody OF the boy.
Another story of the Abduction
SPRINGFIELD, Mass, Sept. I3.-Ex-
Deputy Sheriff Love, OF Webster. who took
a prominent part in regaining possession
or the Ward boy. says the boy has been
for som years under the care of his uncle,
>. T.. Green, of Thompson, Conn.,, where
ne was placed, on the death of his mother.
Mrs Ward 1t is known that a fortune OF
about $4,000 was bequeathed to the boy.
or held in trust for him, from the estate OF
his mother. Ferdinand Ward has been try
ing to get possession Of the boy. Last
night Ward went to Webster I'm company
with an ~accomplice and secured rooms at
the hotel.
He took a team; and with his companion
as a driver went to Thompson, Conn. on
a. prospecting tour. Nothing was accom-
returned to Webster to pass the nigshf.
This morning the man who was with Mr..
ward hlred a team again and took a Web
TO Thompson There they found the bow.
Clarence Ward. in school with his mates.
WARDS secured an interview
with the young fellow and told him that
his father was waiting to have a chance
to talk with him. Either by the bows con-
sent or by force he was placed i'm the
carriage and was taken by the two man
away from the school in the direction of
Webster: Mr.. Green, the boys uncle.
was a close one, and Sheriff Love met the
two parties not far from the town. He
allowed the KIDNAPPING party to pass him.
but as soon as he learned from the pur-
turned about and Joined in the pursuit.
In webster the boy and his captor were
IOund at the JOSlin House, where the team
had been put into the stables. The bows
captor, whose name Is unknown, had taken
MIN TO a room in the hotel.
Mr.. Green to- take possession
OF the boy and take him back home. but
the captor objected TO this and a struggle
ensued- Sheriff Love, who was waiting
In the corridor, heard the sound of the
He demanded OF the man VINO held nos
session OF Clarence Ward what papers he
had to show his right to take the bow.
Inc man stated that he had none. but
that Ferdinand Ward would soon appear
with papers showing his right. Sheriff
Love at once said that until those papers
were produced the boy must be allowed
TO remain in possession of his uncle. Mr..
Green. 1t was found that Ferdinand Ward
mad been consulting a local lawyer and
getting out papers of habeas corpus.
When 1t was found that Mr.. Green had
taken the boy across the line into Con-
n~ecticut, Ward soon left the place. Where
he has zone is not known. There was no
officers did not feel sure that he had no
right to the child and under the circum-
stances II would, perhaps, be hard to
prove the crime of abduction.