The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1897-09-01
which he could throw his accusers off

the track.
It was soon seen that threats would
not bring about the desired results and
persuasion was brought TO bear on
Fhim, He WAS offered a big ransom to
tell anything he knew about the kid
| mapping, and finally il was made so
large that he confessed the kidnapping
and said he would take party to
SHOW where the child was. If the
story which it is alleged Hardy tod
the chief OF police behind closed doors
Thursday morning is true. the Conwsy
child narrowly escaped the supposed
fate of Charley Ross.
When tho quarry became hot Blake
urged that as the boy would betray
them thew had better rid them selves
of him. Hardy was triHe timid and
asked for another day. 1t was finally
agreed that at late hour Wednesday
night they would take the boy from
the old schoolhouse where they had
him locked up and would either drown
him or drop him from railroad train.
The finger of suspicion pointed at the
men and a careful watch on their
movements by the police and the re-
porters gave them no opportunity.
Hardy evidently kept Blake informed
of the game, for when the Associated
Press reporter Wednesday afternoon
interviewed Mr.. Conway as to his idea
Of relatives being mixed up in the
case, Hardy left the house and met
Blake at o hotel. Blake then disap
peared and was not found until
o'clock Thursday morning, IN the
meantime he had, it is believed, visit
ed the coy.
When the police arrested Hardy
Thursday morning they took him to
the third precinct station house, but at
request from the chief of police,
brought him to headquarters. When
the wagon was ready the squad OF
police had great difficulty in forcing
their way to it, and the mob impeded
the passage OF the horses and threat
eued to pull Hardy to pieces. An ex-
ira squad Of police was required TO
preserve order.
The story OF the recovery Of the boy
is sn exciting one, these in charge OF
the affair spendidg three hours in
dense woods and fearing each NC
nent a pistol bail. When Blake was
induced to show the place where the
boy was, clever scheme was arrang-
ed. a police clerk named Matthew
Greagan put on old clothes and drove
the wagon as hired man. Detective
Reilly was his assistant, and Police
Commissioner Phelsn and John Far
rell. counsel for thu Argus, sat with
Blake. When they had driven out
several miles, Blake called halt and
said he would find the boy. He dis
appeared in tbs woods, followed by MIR.
Phelan and Mr.. Farrell. They were
gone about an hour, and when they
returned said they had seen the child
guarded by masked man. Mr.. Phe
Ian thought it would be serious af-
fair. Blake demanded the reward OF
50, 800 before he would get the child
out, and then there was long parley,
Greagan, as driver, Offering to 60 to
the Argus office and get it. While
this parley was at its height, Greagan
sprang from the wagon, and followed
by Reilly, pistols i 4 hand, rushed into
the place. Greagan called upon Reil-
ly to cover him and then grasped the
child and ran for the wagon. Farrell
fired several shots. The men finding
that they were beaten, retreated and
the child's rescuers drove rapidly
down the road to the city.
District Attorney Burlingame and
Mayor Thacher had Hardy under ex-
animation for almost two hours Thurs
day, and at the end of the time the
district attorney said: Hardy has
practically told everything, but can
not give it out now. There were at
least two other people in the affair,
and I believe we will get them all:
The penalty for the otfense is 30 years
Imprisonment"
The child was seen at his home
Thursday at noon after he had been
quieted down, and showed little signs
of his outing except insect bites about
the face. His pockets were filled with
candy, and he said that he had slept
in nice soft bed. As nearly SIS can
be learned from the child's prattle, LIE
was picked up by Blake on Pearl street
and driven to an old school house.
He was kept there until Wednesday,
when they went further in the woods,
as the boy says "for drive" He says
that only one man was with him at
the time of the driving, but he saw
some others about in the woods. 1t
was intended to arraign Hardy in po.
lice court Thursday afternoon, bu! at
the hour there was such a threaten.
ing crowd in the building and about
it that the police postponed the hear
ing.