The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1897-09-01

from HIS Play and Left 3 Letter for Hi
Father.
Mothers in Albany, N. Y. helt
their dear ones closer Monday
night and little ones who would 1t
skipping and playing fsr from THEN
doorsters now cling to tie arms o.
mother and father fer iesr of lvidnap
pers, like the two who stole Johnny
Conway from his home, No. 80 Colo
NJ street. Chief Mead. OF the detect
i've force, told the Journal correspon
dent that he expected to have some
news in the kidnapping case before
morning. 1t IS learned that the police
have clews 10 the identity of the kid
nappers and believe that the lad is
still in Albany or near the city. Chief
Mead said he believed the kidnappers
were men well acquainted with the
Conway family, and knew that John
ny's father, Michael Conway, a fru
gal, sober man, had money enough in
The bank to pay the s., 0C0 ransom that
they have asked for the safe return oi
the child.
Conway is q railroad man. grsy in
tie service of the Central hudson.
The gossips say Conway was true to
the company in the great strike OF
1886 and the lesser one in 1890. Des
pelate men were the strikers Of these
years. Murder ard train wreckinp
were deeds charged against several Of
them, who were especislly bitter 10
ward the railroad and its employ es
who were faithful. Feuds between the
strikers and tbs company mel last
to this day. Men who were strikers
occasionally return from their enforc
cd exile and each return brings trOu
bic. Old railroad men sttTibute the
kidnapping to the desire of some G!
the defeated strikers fer revenge, with
the possibility of ransom monsy add
ed, for the Central Hudson black
listed" the leaders Of the strikers and
they cannot obtain work upon rsil
roads at any place when recognized
To this Conway says:
II didn't know that I had an enemy
in the world" His wife sobhed ne,
assent and the nejghbors who came tc
comfort the beresved ones gave sor
rowful acquiescehce. Crowds gather
ed about the corners adjacent to The
Conway home all day, eager 70 hear
the bsrest rumors of the stolen lad
A manly, daring little chap, they all
said he was, and, Notwithstanding his
age. more than likely to run along
with any stranger who spoke to him
pleasantly.
Threats OF lynching were heard from
the mouths of men, who though! oil
their own children. Organ;zed parties
of sesrchers secured the wooded bills
just north of Albany, for there bands
of t1amps are wont to make their
camps pending their journeyirg on
ward, the place being quite desolste
and safe from police inspection, but
near to the railroads.
Only one glea,u of hope came to the
parents during the day. Michael Dol
lard, Democratic politician and city
contractor, told of seeing two men go,
ing southwark on North Pearl street,
two blocks from the Conway homo,
shortly after 9 o'clock Monday naol-
ming. A small boy, whom he thought
might have been Johnnie Conway,
was between the men. The lad had
given a hand to each. Dollard can
only say that one man was well dress.
ed and the other was in working
clothes. This description by Dollard
is corroborative of the testimony OF
neighbors of the Conways, who tell o!
two men who lounged about Colony
street on Sunday night near the Con.
way house. They stopped at the sioop
OF No. 1O3 Colony street and asked
where the Conways lived Being told,
the two turned in different direction
and ioafed in the shadow of high
building. The universal excitement
in the neighborhood caused the neigh
bors to rack their memories. and to
day the Conways were told and in
formed the police.
One of the men was tall, not stout,
and ungainly. lie wore dark clothes
and had a broad livid scar diagonally
across his cheek. The other one was
short and stout, and wore clothes oi
light color. One neightor says this
man was extraordinarily veil dressed
and carried himself like 8 gentleman
On these clews the police are work
ing. The alarm has been sent broad
cast and cooperation is expected from
the police of all sections of the State
1t was learned Monday night thai
The Troy police had information tha
two men accompanied by small boy
answering generally to the description
OF Johnny Conway had been seen ir
motor car among a company CT Ger
mans, who were bound to a saenger
fest in Watervilet, five miles from
Albany.
Although the police still maintair
that the lad and his abductors are il
or near Albany, it is known that ex
traordinary efforts have been made t.
excite the energies of the police a
places distant from Albany.
Mrs. Conway told the Journal cor
respondent all she knew of the abduc
tion OF her boy. Her eyes were rec
with weeping, and the drawn expires
sion of her comely face told of th'
thirty six hours of suffering she hat
erdured Her rugged husband, scarce
ly less affected, stood by and begged
her 10 bear up. We'll get good new
soon," ne pleaded, with 6 hall sob
hard to repress."
Johnny went out Monday NOR
ming" she saio, sobs breaking ne,
words. THAT was ct o'clock. Then
at half past ten when I thought h
was playing with the other children
a boy left a letter for my husband.