Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1897-08-20

Child's Return.
Albany, N. Y, August 10. - Five
year-old John Conway, who has been
at the mercy of kidnappers since Mon
day morning, was returned to his par
ents shortly after o'clock to-day,
through the efforts of private detec-
tives and reporters in the employ 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 a squad Of police. Blake
was found and taken TO the Argus Office
with Hardy at a. m. He was accused
Of the kidnapping, and at first denied
| all knowledge Of il. When threats fail
ed he was offered ransom, and finally
it was made so large that he confessed
the kidnapping and piloted party OF
Argus men some five miles out in the
country, where he left them, and In a
short time returned with the boy in his
arms. He was given stuffed pocket
book for his ransom and an effort was
made to arrest him.
When he saw that he had been trap
ped he pulled a revolver, fired four
shots and broke away from his captors,
who did not pursue him, but drove I'M
mediately to the city with the boy.
Joseph NJ. Hardy, of 1T Livingston
avenue, is florist, but is not in busi-
ness, having been relying on the pool
| rooms to certain extent to get an in
come. He has been in strained cir
cumstances for some time. When the
boy was missed Hardy made a great
show at searching for him, and it was
only late yesterday that any suspicion
attached TO him. 1t was found that he
and H. G. Blake, a poolroom associate,
had hired rig the day the hnv disap-
peared. Blake was cornered apart from
Hardy and offered $4,000 to produce
the boy. He asked for S2,500 which
was granted, and at 4 o'clock this morn
ing Blake guided a carriage load of de-
tectives and reporters to where the boy
was found. Blake said he had nothing
to do with the kidnapping, but he had
received tip which he was wiling co
sell for the amount named. Hardy's
house was last night surrounded by po-
lice that he might not escape and to
protect him from an angry crowd that
had threatened to lynch him. Blake
directed the rescuing party to lonely
spot near Albany. The boy was found
alive and we'll. The boys father and
mother were waiting for him in front
Of the Argus office. At $50 Hardy was
arrested and taken under guard to po-
lice headquarters.
The abduction was worked so
smoothly and quietly that the ruse to
catch the kidnappers after they had
made their effort to return the boy for
$4,000 was absolutely ineffective, al
though ii was carefully arranged and
apparently laid along the lines given
by the kidnappers themselves. John
ME when he disappeared from home.
wore black knickerbockers with pink
stripe, blue waist, white straw hat
with black band. black stockings and
black button shoes. He has blue eyes
and light hair, cut short He was play
ing in front of his fathers house at
No. 90 Colinie street, in West Albany.
Mrs. Conway, Monday, had opened the
gate 30 that Johnnie might have the
run Of the little side street. Her house
I hold duties carried her back and forth
through the house, and occasionally
she would glance out to see that the
boy had come to no harm. At last she
had finished with the work in the front
part of the house and went up stairs 70
change her clothing and get ready for
the midday meal.
She was gone about an hour, during
which time she glanced out of the
front window once or twice and saw
the boy playing in the street. a couple
Of houses above the Conway residence.
She came downstairs 10 the kitchen
and did not go to the front door of the
house again for half an hour. Then
she stepped out on the porch and look
ed around for Johnnie. He was no.
where in sight. She went back into
! the house and tried to keep calm.
Not fifteen minutes later the front
door bell rang. Mrs. Conway went TO
the door. Standing on the front step
was a bare-footed, tousle-haired lad OF
about 10 years. with very crafty look
in his face and queer way OF passing
his hand over his forehead. He had a
! letter in his hand.
Give this 20 Mr. Conway y he said.
/ The envelope was dirty and the writing
} poor.
Have you seen my Johnnie?" the
woman asked.
Nav" said the dirt-begrimed
youth. and then he turned and half ran
down the yard and out on the street.
The woman could not wait until her
husband came home. She had an in
defnable fear that the letter contained
some news Of the boy. She was not
, mistaken. Here was what the letter
said:
"Mr. Conway-Your little boy John
! has been kidnapped When you re-
ceive this word he will be a safe dis
/ tance from home, and where he could
not be found in a hundred years. Your
boy will be returned TO you on pay
ment OF $4,000, provided you pay the
money to-day and strictly abide by
/ the following directions:
( Put the money in package and
send it by a man you can trust to the
! lane going up the hill on the Troy road
! west of the toll-gate. Just on the road
| in this lane there is tree with a big
trunk. Have your man put the pack
age on the south side Of the tree and
! at once come away and come back &c