Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-08-20
lLBANY'S ABDUCTION
,ur CHILD FOUND AND RETURNED
no ms PARENTS.
CHARLEY ROSS'S SUPPOSED FATE.
..,t. Almost the Actual Fate OF shc
,tuc New York Doy-Onc OF the
kbductors the chiid'S Uncie-rhe
Ucscuc Exciting.

HrsgNt tsAtttiHEs
r8ANY, y. y. August 19.-Five-
...~.od John Conway. who has been
.. no. mercy Of kidnappers since Mon
l.v morning, was returned to MS
,rents shortly after o'clock to-day,
through the efforts Of private dotec-
tyes and reporters in the employ OF
She Argus. The child was abducted by
his uncle. Joseph Hardy, and II. d.
Elake. Hardy has been placed under
arrest. but Blake escaped from his cap
tors and is being pursued by a squad
of police.
Early this morning the clue was Sc
cured that relative OF Mr. Conways
had some connection with the hdnap-
ping. and an investigation Of the charac-
fer and reputation OF Hardy strength
ened the belief that If the Conway
child was TO be restored. IT would be
through information given by his rela-
tive. Slowly. but surely a chain OF
evidence wa- made against him, and
Early this morning II was believed that
Blake was his companion I'm the crime.
Blake was found and taken TO the
Argus Office with Hardy at 4 O'Clock
mis- morning lie was indirectly dc-
cused OF knowing where the chlld was
but was deeply offended ana apparent
ly indignant az such charge. lie was
pressed closely and never given an OPP
portunity 10 concoct a story by Whlch
he could throw his accusers on the
track. IL was seen that threats would
moi bring about the desired result, ana
persuasion was brought 10 bear on MN.
qe was offered q big ransom 10 ten
rnvthing he knew about the Kidnapping
ma finally the ransom was maze 80
ARC that ne confessed the kidnapping
ana said he would take a party 70
where the child was. ,,,.
~ the story which. 70 IS alleged, Hardy
told the chief Of Police. behind closed
doors this morning. is true, the conway
child narrowly escaped the supposed
fate Of Charley Ross. When the quarry
became hot Blake urged that as the
how would betray them, they mad better
rid themselves OF him. Hardy was
trl0e timld. and asked for another day.
IN was finally agreed that at a late hour
last night they would take the boy from
an old school-house, where they had
locked him up. aud would either drown
him or drop him from a railway train
The finger of suspicion pointed TO the
men. and a careful watch set on their
movements by the police and the re-
portcrs save them no opportunity.
When an Associated Press reporter
Yesterday asked Mr.. Conway as TO rela-
tivos being mixed up I'm the affair, Hardy
ler The house and met Blake at motel
When the police arrested Hardy this
morning. they took him to the Third
Precinct Station but at the request of
the Chief of Police brought him 10
lcadquarters When the wagon was
ready the squad of police had great diff
Guilty IN forcing their way 10 it, as a
mob impeded the passage Of the horses
and threatened to pun Hardy to pieces.
An extra squad of police was required
10 preserve order.
EXCITING STORY.
The story of the recovery OF the boy
Go am exciting one. those i'm charge of
the affair spending three hours in dense
woods. and fearing each moment a
pistol ball When Blake was induced
20 show the place where the boy was
= clever scheme was arranged. A police
clerk. named Matthew Gregan, put on
old clothes. and drove the wagon as a
hired man. Detective Reilly was his
assistant. and Police Commissioner Phe-
Ian. and John T.. Farrell. reporter for
the Argus. sat with Blake. When they
had driven out several miles. Blake
called q halt and said he would find the
boy. He disappeared in the woods, fol-
lowed by Mr.. Phean and Mr.. Farrell
The latter were gone about an hour, and
when they returned said they had seen
the child. guarded by q masked man.
Mr. Phoan thought IL would be a serious
affair Blake demanded the reward of
$3.50 before he would get the child out,
and then there was a long parley, Gre
gan. as driver. Offering to go 10 the
Argus office and get II. While this par
ley was at its height. Gregan sprang
from the wagon. and followed by Reilly,
pistols I'm hand rushed into the place.
Gregan called upon Reilly TO cover him.
and then grasped the child and ran for
the wagon. Farrell fired several shots.
The men. finding that they were beaten
retreatcd and the child rescucrs drove
rapidly down the road 10 the city.
The Schenectady and Troy police arr
now ON the track OF the men, Mayor
Thatcher had Hardy under examination
FOR almost two hours to-day. and at tn
end Of that time the District Attorne!
said that Hardy has practically tol'
everythiug. There were at least TIVE
other people in the affair. The penalty 70
the offence is twenty years imprison
mcnt.
The child was seen at his home tO-da!
at noon, after ne had been Quietcd down
and showed little signs Of his outing, eX
cept insect bites ON the face. His pOck
ets were filed with candy. and he sai'
that ne had slept i'm nice, soft bed. a
nearly as can be learned from the child
prattle he was picked NO by Blake oil
Pearl street and driven TO an old school
house. He was kept there until Nester
day. when the men went farther into IN
woods. as the boy says, for a drive.
he says that only one man was with hin
al the time Of the drive. but be saw SOM
others about the woods.
1t was intended 10 auaign Hardy fl
the Police Court this afternoon. but a
that hour there was such q menacin
crowd I'm the building and about il tina
I.. Il f.lt..F "a