Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1898-10-13
ABDUCTED BUT ESCAPED.
Bernie Burns Taken to Bal
timore, by Force.


+ weeks unaccounted for absence, and
reported that be had been abducted
by strange man a few days ago
and carried to Baltimore, Md, and
an endeavor made to place him in
a Catholic reformatory.
The story young Burns tells is
one of the most thrilling ones ever
heard and would be sufficient to
arouse the most lethargic into a
frenzy of excitement.
A man giving the name of Har-
ris, came to Bernie in this city and
represented to him that he wanted
him to accompany him to Fair
land to get an acquaintance to come
to Vinita to attend Clark's Busin-
ess College. They took the after
noon train last Wednesday and
when the train reached Fairland
the man got what purported to be a
dispatch signed "Brother WILL"
summoning him to St. Louis at
once.
He said he would be back by the
first train and told Bernie he
would get him a round trip ticket,
and did buy one for each of them.
Of course. as it was fair week, the
price was the same as for one
way ticket. Bernie was reluctant.
but finally consented to accompany
the man.
At st Louis they were met by q
detective" who claimed TO have !
requisitlon papers aud informed |
Bernie that he would have to ac-
company him to Baltimore. Ber-
ME called policeman and asked
him if the papers were all right |
and he had to go with the man
and on looking them over the Of
ficer said they appeared to be so.
The charge upon which the pa
pers appeared to be based was re-
fusing to obey his grandmother-
insubordination. The grandmother
will be remembered as Bridget
Burns, of Coffeyville, who with
her daughter Lizzie is now stop
ping at the Cobb House.
The detective" accordingly
started with his prisoner-"Har-
ris" first giving him s35, "from his
grandmother" and arrived in Bal
timore in due time. The boy was
taken TO Catholic institution-St.
Marys-and placed in the care of
an official, calleda Brother" who
informed him he would be COM
PEELED to remain two years.
He then told an attendant to
take Bernie down to the band
room, which that young man had
observed as he went up the stairs,
had a grated window. This
was his chance, he thought,
and lodging the attendant
he slid down the banister of the
spiral staircase, reaching the
street before he could he over
taken. The s35 be had been
given now came into utility and
Bernie purchased a ticket for
home, coming by way of Chica
go and Kansas City.
Several times on the way he en-
deavored to communicate With his
folks here, but in one or more in
stances the man in whose charge
he was, secured the letters. This
morning two letters came from
Bernie to his uncle, S. J. Burns,
one of them postmarked Shelby
vile, Indiana.
BRIEF HISTORY OF THE CASE.
Bernard was the only son of the
late Joseph Burns who died four
years ago at Coffeyville, Kan. His
mother was Cherokee by blood
a sister of r. D. Knight of this
city. She was a widow when she
married Joseph Burns, and the
mother Of Fuller McEane, who was
killed at Pryor Greek three OF four
years ago, and of Mrs. Ida War
rem, the wife of John F. Warren.
Bernard has made his home in
this city for several years with his
uncle, Samuel ]. Burns, and he
graduated from Worcester academy
asst June. Samuel j. Burns was
guardian of the boy and
admins traitor of his estate BY
he tribal courts of the Cherokee
nation some three or more years
Igo. Then began a long drawn
,ut fight in the United States
courts between Mrs. Bridget
Burns and Miss Lizzie Burns,
grandmother and aunt of the boy,
IN the one side, and Samuel J
Burns on the other, as to who =
hould have possession of the boy
nd administer on the estate.
Bernie, as he has always been =
allied, has always preferred to
i've with S. j. Burns, and to have :
i'm manage his affairs, and his wi
randmother and aunt have assidu. a.,
usly sought the interposition of
he courts to assist them in their ne
laims in the matter. In order to ne
'acify all parties Judge Springer pO
t the last term OF the court "a
eld in Vinita, appointed Judge T. al
4. Burlington, administrator of Je
be estate and thus took the mat lily
er out of the hands of Samuel j. Co
turns who had given bond and Sc
Il n L. I