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

one outside or your FAMILY or the man
you send with the money.
"If you take any steps to bring it TO
the attention Of the police you will
never see your child again, for if any
one knows of it we will not take the
risk of returning him, but will leave
him to his fate.
IF you obey our instructions in
every respect you will receive word
within two hours after the money has
been left, where you can go and get
your boy, safe and sound. We have
been after this for a long time. We
know our business. We can beat all
the police in America. We are after
the money. Do what you are told, and
no harm will come to your little boy;
but if you fail to do what we tell you.
you will never look on your child again,
as sure as there is a God in Heaven.
We know you have the money in the
bank. The bank CLOSES at o'clock
and we must have it tonight. So get
1t in time. Don't tell them why you
draw il out. You can say you are
buying property, if you wish, but this
must be between you and me, if YOU
would see your little boy alive again.
Remember the case of Charlie Ross in
Philadelphia. His father did not know
enough TO do as he was told. He gave
up TO the police, and as a consequence
spent five times the amount of ransom
asked, and then he never saw the boy
to the day Of his death; so take warn
ing.
Don't you dare go to anyone. Send
the money by a trusty man to the
place, say, at S:15 tonight. Be sure
that there is no danger Of anyone else
going there. Then, within two hours
after the package is left in the old
tree, you will have your little boy back
again. Think of that If you betray
us in any way, say goodby to your boy
and watch out for yourself; we will
meet you when you least expect it. and
then take care. Do as we tell you and
all will be well, and we will deal
straight with you. IF you make the
least crooked move you will regret it
to the day Of your death. II you would
have your little boy back again safe
and sound keep your lips closed and do
exactly as you are told.
THE CAPTAIN OF THE GANG"
Mrs. Conway screamed and shrieked
and went into Mysteries when he had
half finished the letter. Her cries
filled the house with neighLors in few
seconds. Somebody went down town
on a wild run for Mr.. Conway. The
father was not told of the trouble ur-
til he got home, then the letter was
shown to him. He stood the awful
IN, y,lyon ~ htt ,y1a q
the letter long enough to get the drift
of it. Then he devoted his attention
to his wife She was finally quieted
and put to bed under the care Of 4
physician.
Conway went down town and report
ed the matter at police headquarters.
Conway gave great aid to the police
in making arrsLn & semtsrrus for -tiie rum
ming down Of the gang. He went 10
the bank with "trusty" friend and
made a bluff at drawing out $4,000.
In full view of the street his money
was put in a package and handed to
him. Along with it was another
package, a dummy one, containing
paper. He dropped the real package
as he passed out Of the door and car
ried the other one down the street
with him.
~ The money was entrusted to the
friend. with instructions to follow inn
plicitly the directions contained in the
kidnapper's letter The police secretly
sent men out Of the town on trains
with instructions to drop off at way
stations and get back the best they
could to the rendezvous on the Troy
road at nightfall
The friend with the dummy package
left Albany on his lonely walk at
o'clock. The police were scattered
about the field Of waving wheat on the
opposite side Of the road from the big
hollow tree. The package was deposit
ed as directed, and then the man turn
ed back toward town. There was abso-
lutely no sign of the kidnappers. The
police waited for hours, but got no
trace of them. A search was made OF
the surrounding country. But thls'
too, was without success. Then the
news of the abduction was made pup
lie in town and the hunt became
general one.
After the police had returned from
their wearving search there was con-
ference in Chief Davidson's ONCE, at
which were present all the detectives
of Albany, the police captains and AS
sistant District Attorney John l.
Cooke. The conference decided that
general alarm should be sent out an
over the country for the missing child:
Navor Thacher offered a reward OF
$500 for the capture of the abductors
and the return of the. child.