The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1896-07-18
TRAMPSSTEAL A BOY
HE Is NO SMALL CHILLI, BUT SIX
FEET In HEIGHT.
Strange Story Told by Wealthy Swede
Farmer of Riley County, Who Says That
His Son Was Overpowered by Tramps
and Forced by Them to HAM Them to
the Railroad and Since July He has
Been Unable to Hear Anything Con-
corning Hfm-He has Travelled Continu-
ousIy and Ofie Is a Reward of $500.

John Swanson of Randolph, Riley
county, Kansas was in the city yester-
day In search OF his son, who, he says.
was stolen by tramps on the night Of
July l.
Since that time Mr.. Swanson, who
Is one of the wealthiest Swede farmers
in the state, has done nothing but travel
and advertise for his SON Yesterday
he called at the sheriff office and offer
ed a reward of 5000 for information that
will lead to the recovery Of his son.
Notwithstanding the fact that he has
Travelled continuously ne has never
heard a word concerning the boy since
his disappearance. In speaking or the
case to a reporter for the Eagle yeSter-
day, Mr.. Swanson said:
II have two farms which are four
miles apart, and on July the boy was
working on the place four miles from
home and was sleeping in the house.
He had provisions in the house and
was intending to plow corn the next
day. / was over to see how he was
getting along and found posted on the
door a note saying that he had been
overpowered by tramps and had been
compelled to hitch up and haul them to
some place he did not know where.
"a little neighbor girl saw tramp
LAYING by the side of the road asleep
curing the day and it is the general be
lief that he came upon Elmer and forced
him TO go with him in a. cart. / have
been TO Kansas City, Omaha end Lin
coin, as well as to Topeka and other
places. l will gladly pay a reward for
his return or ransom, If that is what
de is held for His mother is almost
crazy with grief and 1 can do nothing
but travel in hopes Of finding the boy.
HE was a good boy and perfectly
contented, but what bothers me is why
4 can not learn anything concerning
him Searching parties have been
over every road for fifty miles from the
place and they can not even strike a
trail Sometimes am afraid that he
has been killed, but ff such is the case
why is it that we can not hear some |
Thing about the pony and cart
81 am mailing the following card TO
everypostofflce IN Oklahoma and Colo |
RADIO and if published in the Eagle 1
think we viii hear from him:
$4,000 REWARD
Elmer Swanson was taken by force |
by tramp. from his fathers farm in |
the southwest corner of Marshall coun-
ty, Kan, on July 1, 1896.
Description OF boy-17 years OF age, |
feet high, straight build, light COM
plexion, blue eyes, light hair, soft and |
silky, with bare spot about the size |
of a 25-oent piece little to the left on
top Of the head; has a sober look and
dong features.
Drove a coal-black pony mare, Nor
gan" stock, with reached name and tail;
right eye out, and deep wire cut across
breast; pigeon-toed IN hind feet; hitch
ed to a cart painted black, with coil
springs. and cuittvator spring attached
to make them stronger.
$50 OF above reward will be paid for
finding the boy. $50 for arrest of the
tramp Notify John Swanson, box ZIG,
Randolph. Kansas, or Sheriff Cone,
Kan.