The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1897-08-26
KIDNAPPED FOR RANSOM.
Little John Conway, Of Albany, N. Y,
Stolen in the Street.
CHARLIE ROSS CASE DUPLICATED.

StHNtAtI tSSS NftSI ISI ItSN IL
His Father Informed by Letter That Un
Less His Captors Received $4,000 tho Bo,
Would Be Put Out OF the way-Coaxet
Him From His Play, It Is Supposed
Albany Citizens Wild With Excitement
ALBANY, N. Y. (speciaD.-The kidnsp.
ping Of little John Conway Is likely to be
as celebrated an incident IN criminal his.
tory as the abduction Of Charles Ross. The
police are nonplussed. The parents are
almost crazed with anxiety. Friends are
searching the open country which lies
about the cities of Albany and Troy, and
dispatches have been sent by Chief Willard
and his representatives to the authorities
Of half dozen cities.
That the kidnapping OF the Conway child
is the result OF plot there Is no question.
That more than one person 1s concerned
seems certain. The motives, the where
abouts and all the relative circumstances
OF the theft OF the child are mysteries.
Mr.. Conway says he has no enemies. In
this he is mistaken, for as night train
dispatcher in West Albany, for the New
York Central and Hudson River Railroad.
he hes been engaged In two or three labor
disputes and has aroused resentment.
Whether the stealing Of his youngest child
Is an act of reprisal or merely caused Jy
q desire to obtain ransom OF $4,000 can
not at present be determined.
The Conway family, consisting Of the faith
er, Michael ]. Conway, his wife and three
children-William, Mary and Jofn-have
lived in Colonie street for twelve years.
They now occupy a roomy, old fashioned
house half way down the hill toward Broad
way. Conway is In receipt Of An excellent
salary.
John Is five years old, the youngest Of
the family He is very bright child, and
his father said that the little one not only
knew his name, so that he could tell 1t
readily, but also where he lived, his home
number and his fathers name.
The circumstances surrounding young
Conways disappearance resemble closely
those attending the kidnapping OF Charley
Ross. Young Conway's abductors appear
to have been close students OF the Ross
case.
On the morning OF his boys disappear
ance Mr.. Conway returned to his hon ne after
his nights duties and ate breakfast Is usual
with his family. After breakfast the father
retired and the fve-year-old boy was al
left the house a little after o'clock. Two
hours afterward Mrs. Conway answered
ring OF the door bell.
A boy fourteen wears old and poorly
dressed was standing there with letter
addressed to Mr.. Conway. This lid not
alarm her as Mr.. Conway had several men
under him at West Albany, and in case OF
sickness or desire to take a few hours on
man would send him word. This letter
appeared bulkier than those usually re-
ceived, and instead Of keeping it until her
husband awoke in the afternoon Ms. Con-
way took it to his room and he read its con-
tents. This was the first intimation the
parents had Of the kidnapping OF the child.
The affair is mystery. and even now the
boys parents would be at loss to account
for his absence from home had not the
principals in the plot unfolded in this let
ter their plans to the boys father, and de-
manded ransom Of $4,000 and absolute
secrecy under threat to kill both the boy
and the father il these conditions were not
compiled with.
Mr.. Conway read the letter aloud. Be-
fore he had concluded Mrs. Conway had be-
come hysterical. The letter was fairly well
written. There was no apparent attempt
to disguise the writing.
At first he could not appreciate the fact
that his little boy had been stoled. Then
be rushed out and made hurried inquiries
In the neighborhood. without result. Des-
perate because OF the apparent hopeless
ness Of hissearch, he went to the police,
but they have been unable to obtain any
clue to the boys whereabouts or his ab-
ductors.
The police ordered photographs Of the
missing boy to be copied, and sent them
broadcast with the following description OF
him:
John Conway, Kidnapped; age Eve
years; blue eyes, light colored hair, cut
short; wore knee pants, pink stripe; blue
waist, light straw hat with brown stripe;
black stockings; button shoes"
Excitement Is at fever heat in Albany
over the kidnapping. Hundreds OF people
thronged the street on which the boy lived
all day long, and watched every visitor
closely, expecting some news OF the abduc-
tors. The police have had score OF clews
that have amounted upon investigation to
nothing at all. Every one Is ut sea, and
the parents Of the lost child are nearly
crazed with anxiety, and uncertain as to
what step to take.
A reward has been offered by local
paper, and the entire detective and police
force. as we'll as hundreds Of citizens, will
pursue their search.