Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-08-19
KIDNAPPED BOY FOUND
Five-Year-0ld John Conway Restored to His
Parents.
The Child Was Abducted by His
Uncle and a Man Named
Blake.

ALBANY, N. z, August 19.-Five-year-
old John Conway, who has been at the
mercy of kidnapers since Monday morn
ing, was returned to his parents shortly
after o'clock today, through the efforts of
private detectives and reporters in the en-
ploy of the Argus.
The child was abducted by his uncle,
Joseph Hardy, and H. G. Blake.
Hardy has been placed under arrest, but
Blake escaped from his captors and is
being pursued by squad of police.
Early yesterday morning a clue was se-
cured that n relative of Mr.. Conway had
some connection with the kidnapping, and
an investigation of the character and repu-
tation Of Hardy strengthened the belief
that IL the Conway child was to be re-
stored. it would be through information
given by this relative. Slowly but surely
chain or evidence was made against him
and early this morning it was believed that
Blake was his companion in the crime.
Blake Makes Confession.
Blake was found and taken to the Argus
office with Hardy at o'clock this morning
He was indirectly accused of knowing
where the child was, but was deeply af-
fronted and apparently offended at such a
suggestion. He was pressed closely and
never given an opportunity to concoct or
fix a scheme whereby he could throw his
accuSerS CIT the track. 1t was seen that
threats would not bring about the desired
results and persuasion was brought to bear
on him. He was offered a big ransom to
tell anything he knew about the kidnap-
ing, and finally Ii was made so large that
he confessed the kidnapping and piloted a
party or Argus men some five miles out
in the country, where he left them and in
short time returned with the boy in his
arms.
Given "a Stuffed Pocket Book.
He was given stuffed pocket book for
his ransom. and an effort was made to ar
rest him.
When he saw that he had been trapped
he pulled revolver, fired four shots and
broke away from his captors, who did not
pursue him, but drove Immediately to the
city with the boy. Their drive through the
city VIII long be remembered. Driving
down State street at few minutes before
U o clock, wnen thousands of people were
on the streets, the little fellow was held
high in the air and his rescuers shouted
We've got him." In less than a second
the crowd realized what We've got him
meant, and an uproarious shout went uD
Men, women and children followed the
wagon with shouts of joy to the Argus
office, where little Johnny Conway was
placed in the window for the benefit of the
admiring and joyous crowd.
Joy of the Mother
Ten minutes later he was receiving the
loving embraces and fond kisses of his
mother, who reioiced as If one from the
grave had been restored to her. In fact, the
neighbors for blocks around, who had been
in sympathetic mourning with the parents
of the boy since his mysterious disappear
ance, were overcome with joy at his re-
turn.
Blake, who will probably soon be
brought to bay by the police, DID not
openly confess that he kidnapped the boy
but claimed that he knew a party who
knew where the boy could be found.