The San Francisco call., 1897-08-20
HIS UNCLE PLANNED THE
BOLD THEFT.
Evidence Gathered by a News
paper Leads to a Sensa-
tional Climax.
BATTLE IN THE WOODS WITH
THE CHILD-STEALERS.
Those Who Plotted to Obtain Ram
som Had Decided to Let Train
XIII the Boy.

ALBANY, n. Y, Aug. 19.-LittIe John
Conway, kidnapped on Monday as he
played in front of his fathers house, was
found with his abductors to-day and re-
stored to his parents. The child was
rescued in q dense wood near karners,
about miles west of Albany. Joseph Nj.
Hardy, the boys uncle, is accused OF be-
ing the chief conspirator in the attempt
to obtain ransom. He is already under
arrest.
Henry A. Blake. or Avery, and A.
Knass, of whom little is known by the
police are being hunted as Hardy's con-
1ederates. They were within arms reach
OF the authorities, but escaped. Hardy
was arrested at his home soon as it was
learned that the boy had been rescued.
The first tangible cIew to the identity of
the kidnapers was given to the police by
The CALL correspondent. This was in the
form OF a minute description furnished by
q messenger boy of the three men who re-
quested him to deliver the demand for
ransom to Conway.
Afterward the three men were COM
PEELED to press a bareiooted boy into serv-
ice for the purpose. The description of
the men tailed with those of Hardy and
Blake. They were shadowed all day by
the police. A private detective in the
service of an Albany newspaper first
brought the case to point. This detec-
tive persuaded two of the suspected men
TO 90 with him TO the newspaper office.
Hardy was secured first. This was at II
o'clock last night,
After much persuasion Hardy consented
to see his pal, Blake. They contradicted
each other, and Hardy finally collapsed.
He was locked up, and Blake then broke
down. and in the end said he could pro-
duce the child for $500 This was agreed
to, and the detectives and Blake then
went in a carriage to drive to the boys
hiding-place. The party included Com
missioner Phalen. Rely, Court Clerk Gre
gan and john F Farrell.
The carriage took a circuitous route
about the city, finally leaving its bounda-
ries and proceeding along the Schenectady
turnpike. Blake had not disclosed where
the boy was hidden, and although the
mem bers OF the party were well armed
they became alarmed at the distance
which had to be travelled, fearing an am
3
cite their uneasiness happened, however.
The party had gone eight miles before
Blake signaled the driver to stop, near
Karners, a small station on the New York
Central. Blake then absolutely refused TO
20 toward the people who he suspected
had abducted the child unless he went
alone. Then he started off by himself,
but returned some fifteen minutes
later and advised Farrell he would allow
him and Police Commissioner Phalen
to accompany him to the rendezvous
The three started off and went into the
woods. Blake climbed TO the top little
and whistIed. Presently they heard the
cracking OF twigs and the rustline of
branches, and there appeared a tall we'll
built young man of swarthy complexion,
with black hair, clean-shaven face and
steel-gray eyes, with a peaked hat pulled
down over his forehead and a handker-
chief across his face from ear to ear.
The msn asked about Farrell coming
there. In reply Blake stated to him the
proposition for the payment of $500 cash
on delivery of little Johnny Conway. The
unknown man, in deep husky voice,
evidently assumed, absolutely refused to
deliver the child except on payment OF
$500 cash or the spot. While talking
Farrell heard the cracking of twigs and
looking around saw another man in the
underbrush. This man joined the group
and learning about the mission of the
party became suspicious. a stormy discus
sion followed until patien ce was almost
exhausted. At last Blake agreed that he
would lead the party back TO the carriage
and that the young man, who was alone
in evidence besides Blake, though Blake
said there were two or three others in the
background. would take the child to the
back of the old Methodist church; that
he would have three men with him and
Farrell should have one; that the child
should be turned over TO them and that
they would pay him $500. This was
agreed to and the party went to the place
indicated.
The kidnapers had in the meantime
again had their suspicious aroused and
there was another conference. Blake
was threatened with arrest if the deal was
not soon concluded. Just then was heard
the cry of the child: Don't leave, don't
leave me-" The rescuers rushed in the
direction of the sound and soon came
upon the child and secured MIN. Describ-
ing the capture of the boy Clerk Gregan TO-
night said:
'fWben Blake entered the bushes for the
last time we heard cry, and thinking
that the men in am bush were killing the
boy we cooked our revolvers and started
in pursuit. We opened fire at once, and
as we dashed across the little open space
into the WOODS we heard a cracking OF
twigs, telling US the captors of the child
had scooted. We must have surprised
them. for they ran for dear life fired
ali the shots l had in my revolver, and
putting the weapon aside dashed into
the underbrush. l heard the cry again,
and it took me at least two
minutes TO locate the sound. I heard 1t