Daily Kennebec journal., 1897-08-20
THE ALBANY BOY FOUND.
His Kidnappers Were Fooled With Stuffed
P0cketbook.

Albany, N. Y, Aug. 19.-Five-year-
old John Conway, who has been at the
mercy of kiunappers since Monday
morning, was returned to his parents
shortly after 9 o'clock today, though
the efforts of private detectives and re-
porters 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.
Early yesterday morning clue was
secured that a relative of Mr.. Conway
had some connection with the kidnap-
ping, and an investigation of the char
acter Of Hardy strengthened the belief
that If the Conway child was to be re-
stored it would be through information
given by this relative. Slowly but sure
ly chain of evidence was made against
him and early this morning it was dis
covered that Blake was his companion
in the crime.
1t was seen that threats would not
bring about the desired results and per-
suasion was brought to bear on him.
He was offered a big ransom to tell any
thing he knew about the kidnapping
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
how in his arms He was given a
stuffed pocketbook for his ransom and
an effort was made to arrest him. When
he saw that he had been trapped he
pulled a revolver, fired four shots and
broke away from his captors, who did
not pursue him, but drove Immediately
to the city with the boy. Their drive
through the city will long be remem-
bered.
Driving down State street at few min
utes before g. when thousands of people
were on the streets. the little felioW was
held high in the air and his rescuers
shouted, We've got him." In less than a
second the crowd realized what" we've
got him. meant, and an uproarious shout
went up. Men, women and children fol
lowed the wagon with shouts of JOY TO
the Argus office. where little Johnny Con-
way was placed in the window Tor the
benefit of the admiring and joyous
crowds.
Ten minutes later, he was receiving the
mother. who rejoiced as IL one from the
grave had been restored to her.
The kidnappers, Aug. Is. notified the
family that they could get the child by
payment of $4,000. with the threat that if
that amount was not promptly paid, the
boy would never be seen again, and the
Charley Ross case was cited as illustra-
ton.
If the story which it 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 be-
came hot, Blake urged that as the boy
would betray them they had better rid
themselves of him. Hardy was a trifie
timid and asked for another day.
1t was finally agreed that at a late
hour last night they would take the boy
from the old schoolhouse where they had
locked him up. and would either drown
him or drop him from railroad train.
The finger of suspicion pointed at the
men and the careful watch set upon 1heir
movements by the police and the report
| ers gave them no opportunity.
| Hardy evidently kept Blake informed Of
the game for when the Associated Press
representative. yesterday afternoon. in
| terviewed Mr.. Conway as to his ideas of
relatives being mixed up in the case.
Hardy left the house and met Blake at