The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-03-09

to Mr.. and Mrs. Meter, if they would
continue to care for the lad. Willie
is a bright little fellow, and having
become much attached to him, the
family agreed to send him to school
and bring him up as their own child.
Within the last two weeks Chief Of
Police Goss received a telegram from
Mrs. Bohms asking that her child be
sent to her in Montana claiming that
the boy was not receiving proper treat
ment by those with whom she had left
him. Secretary Htuchins, Of the re-
lief society, investigated the case and
found the boy was we'll treated, and
in view of the fact that a considerable
sum was owing for his board, nothing
was done toward complying with the
mothers request. Last week man
named Rafferty,, claiming to live in
Minneapolis, visited Mr.. Meter and ex-
hibited letter purporting to be from
Mrs. Bohms stating that the boy was
to be allowed to go with Rafferty,, who
would take him to the home of sis
ter in Minneapolis and afterward to
his mother in Montana The letter
stated that the boys back board would
have the child when this was done.
Nothing more was seen of the man,
and the incident was forgotten until
Willie's disappearance yesterday.
The boy had just returned from the
Washington school after the morning
session and was playing near Fourth
and Pine streets, with Tommy and
Eddie HOrrigan, children of jeremiah
HorrTgan, living at 339 East Sixth
street, when a Well-dressed man drove
up with a spirited horse and black
sleigh. He accOsted the children in a
friendly manner, and enquired their
names.
You are clever little man." said
the stranger to Willie Bohms, come
with me for a ride and 1 will buy you
some candy"
Willie got into the sleigh, while his
companions eyes blinked with envy,
but when the hours sped by and Willie
did not return, their emotions were
changed to joy at having escaped the
bad man who stole Willie away"
From the description of the man with
the sleigh, as learned from the HOrri-
gan children, it is not thought that
it was Rafferty, who formerly called
upon the Meter family about the miss
ing boy. But the police have been in
structed to locate Rafferty, to try and
ascertain if he was concerned in steal
ing the boy from his guardians The
missing child is short and stout OF
stature, has light hair and blue eyes,
and was clad in suit OF gray clothes
consisting of short pants, coat and
vest Mr. Meter is perfectly willing
that Mrs. BOhms should have her child,
even ii he must release his claims for
the boys maintenance, but is anxious
over his disappearance on account of
the fact that he fears the child may
have been stolen by parties not acting
FOR the mother. In either case County
Attorney Anderson declared the steal
ing OF the child Illegal aud punishable
under the law.
The missing boy was located in Min
neapolis last night by Detective Camp
bell who found him at the residence of
John Rafferty,, 2739 Polk street, north
east Mr.. Rafferty, is very i'll and the
warrant for his arrest was not served
upon him, but his sOn-in-law, John
GIuye, accompanied Detective Camp
bell to this city and was detained at
the central station. Mr.. Gruye denies
having taken the boy away as also
does his father-in-law whom, it is
claimed, has been confined to his bed
for two weeks. Arrangements had been
made to SEND the boy to his mother in
Montana today, including the purchase
of railroad ticket.