The San Francisco call., 1896-09-11
MYSTERY OF A
MISSING NEPHEW
A Romantic Tale Told TO
the Children's Society's
Secretary.
LOST ON THE RIVER.
Little Arthur Left Oakland in a
Boat With His Father Many
Weeks Ago.
NOW he CANNOT BE FOUND.
His Father Has Giv,n Many E1plana-
tions, All of Which Have Been
Proved to Be False.
NOW HE CANNOT BE FOUND.
OAKLAND OFFICE SAN Francisco CALL, !

vention of Cruelty to Children to the
peculiar circumstances attending the dis
| appearance OF his nephew, Arthur Hal
strom, 9-year-old boy.
Charles Halstrom, the father of the boy,
or really Charles Johnson, is brother
of the man who Is anxious to regain his
nephew.
The story told by Henry Johnson is re-
markable in many of its leading features.
he says: "Charles and I were separated
in Sweden and met in an Oakland saloon
about two years ago, after being apart for
twenty-five years. Some time ago he
married a young widow and she is the
mother of the little boy who is missing.
His mother is now dead. After her death
my brother went East.
Then he went TO Denver and later came
to Oakland and it was here I met him.
Several times in my presence Charles
was very cruel to the boy, and once he
was arrested, but the boy was SO fright
ened he did not stick to his story and his
father was not convicted. Several weeks
later Mrs. Prescott met my brother and
told him to send Arthur up to her office,
as she wanted to talk with him. He did
not come, and upon further inquiry she
found that he had been missing some
time.
"a search was made, and it was discov-
cred that Halstrom had bought boat
with cabin from Mayor Davie for $40,
in which he proposed to live at the foot OF
Broadway to save rent. He took the boy
aboard and left for Stockton, intending to
buy up old junk on his way.
Nothing could be done until the return
trip, when Mrs. Prescott casually met Mr..
Halstrom on the street, though he tried to
avoid her. She took him to account for
his broken promises and taking the boy
away without notifying the society. He
gave several excuses. Then Mrs Prescott
asked where the boy was, when she was
told he had run away.
"Halstrom said the boy had been gone
week, and he had reported the matter
to the police, but inquiries show he had
not tdone so. Soon after he rushed into the
Office of the society and told Mrs Prescott
the boy had been found and was stopping
with an aunt in East Oakland. Mrs.
Prescott went to the place, only to find
that there was nothing known of the
child. In fact, the child has no aunt in
| this country.
II believe the boy is dead and that he
came to his death between here and
! Stockton. Whether he was frightened to
death or fell overheard 1 don't know. 1
believe my brother is picking hops in
| Yolo County now, and / am very anxious
that he be required to produce that little
boy.
MRS. Prescott shares my belief that the
child is not alive. and when his father
comes within her jurisdiction she will
take steps to at once make him account
| for that child"
Impressive Funeral Services.
OAKLAND. CAL, Sept. 1O.-A large
number of his late associates, as well as
friends of the family, gathered at the j.
G.. Wilson residence, 563 Hobart street,
this afternoon, to pay their token of re-
spect to the memory of their son, Hugh.
| who was drowned in the San Joaquin
River, this side of Stockton, Monday after
noon, while in bathing. A delegation of
twenty-elght members of University Lodge
No. 144, /. o. o. F., and one of fourteen
members of Oakland Parlor No. so. n. S.
u. W., OF which he was a member were
also in attendance.
The Native Sons sent beautiful floral
standard of pink amaryllis, maidenhair
fern and white roses. The Odd Fellows
gift was broken shaft of chrysanthe-
NUNS. A pink and white sweet pea
pillow with the word "Rest" was Mrs.
Wilson's token to Ter dead boy. The en-
ployes of the firm sent floral offerings, as
did numerous friends.
The Rev. DE-. Wendte conducted the SER
vices, during which Messrs. Ben Clark,
Harry Richards, George Carlton and D..
L. Hughes sung "Consolation" and "Thy
Will Be Done" The Odd Fellows fol-
lowed with their ritualistic service, in
which George G. Kaufman acted as noble
grand and A. D. Smith chaplain.
The pall-bearers were Messrs. J. D. Cook.
F. Campbell and ], Cal Ewing from the
Native Sons and Messrs. E. S. Finch. G..
w. Buttner and D. A. Sinclair from the
Odd Fellows. The remains were taken to
San Francisco on the 8 o'clock boat and
cremated at Odd Fellows Cemetery.
The Modern TroJans.
OAKLAND, CAL, Sept. 10.-Dr. B. A.
Rabe, who is one of the charter members
of the new Supreme Lodge of the Order
of NJ odern Trojans, mentioned in to-dav's
CALL, has this to say regarding the new
order:
'The idea that the new order is to be
political organization seems to be current.
l wish to state that 1t has nothing in COM
mon with the A. p. A. or lodges of like
character. 1t is purely beneficial order.
1t will be on the plans of the Woodmen.
Workmen and such orders, only that
we will have the benefit OF their expert
ence and will take the cream of each.
There is 81, 800, 600 sent East from Califor-
MIA every year, 100000 from Oregon and
$500, 900 from Washington. We wish to
keep this money at home"
Funeral of John HI. O'Brien.
OAKLAND, CAL, Sept. 10.-rhe funeral
of John II. O'Brien, who died Monday
evening in San Francisco, WILDE held to-
morrow. 1t has been arranged to leave
San Francisco on the $3.50 boat, arriving at
the foot of Broadway at o'clock on a
special train which will proceed to Stock
ton via Niles, arriving there about noon.
The services in Stockton will be in charge
OF the Knights Templar
Hon. NJ. NJ. Estee, Judge Patterson of
the Supreme Court, Attorney Pillsbury
and General Davis will be on the train,
the latter, who is high in Masonic circles,
will deliver the funeral oration. Governor
James Budd will attend the services.
Meehan OH Probation.
OAKLAND. CAL, Sept. 10.-Lieutenant
Meehan, who was arrested for disturbing
the peace of the neighborhood, was al