The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-09-19
FOLLOWED MANY CLEWS.
James Nations Long Search for His
Lost Daughter.

James NaGlon'S Long Search Tor His
Lost Daughter.
st. Joseph, Mo-, Sept. 19--In response
to a telegram from st. Louis, James
Nation, whose little girl was abducted
two years ago, has gone to that city to
identify, if possible, the child known as
Grace Franklin. Nathan lived in Ell
wood, Kas., opposite St. Joseph. His
child, Laura, aged t years, disappeared
July 16, 1896, at 3 o'clock in the after
noon. AS soon as she was missed her
mother made diligent search of the
gave way to the thought that the child
had fallen into the river and was
drowned. simultaneously with her dis
appearance a party of GypSieS who had
been encamped in the neighbOrhood left.
Suspicion fell upon them, and it was
feared that the child had been kidnapped.
The police were notified of the disap-
pearance of the girl and the strange
circumstances surrounding it. The river
was dragged in the hope that the body
might be found, but to no avail. The
authorities in all cities along the river
were notified to be on the lookout for
the body, but no trace of it was ever
discovered.
This seemingly strengthened the kid
naping story, and descriptions of the
missing girl were sent broadcast, with
the circumstances of her disappear
ance. 1t was not long until Nation be-
gan to receive letters telling him of
children that had been located in vari-
Gus places, and whose description ans
wered that of the missing Laura Time
after time he would answer these let
tiers and meet with new disappoint-
mentS. Hope rose high within the heart
of the anxious parents one night. how
Nation home in ElwoOd and said she
would restore the child for 5000. She
had the appearance of Gypsy fortune
teller, in fact such she purpOrted to be-
Nation questioned her closely but she
said she could do nothing or would tell
nothing until she saw the money Mon
ey IN such sum was an unknown
quantity in the Nation household at
that time, as the small means at the
command of James Nation had almost
been exhausted in the search. The wo-
man left
1t was dark night and Nation noise
lessly slipped out of the house after her
Stealthily he followed her through the
lonely streets of FlWOOd and down the
road to the river bridge. There she
paid her toll and started across, Nation
still following. Reaching the city she
led him long chase up dark streets
and down alleys through the business
district of the city, finally leading to
North Market street
Several times he had almost lost sight
of her, but after she reached Second
street, north of the city hall, she evil
IDENTIFY thought she was safe, for she
went boldly along. Twenty blocks
further she went, and upon eaching the
extreme north end of Second street she
entered dilapidated dwelling. Nation
made his way back home, and the fol-
lowing morning he notified the police.
A secret service officer was detailed to ac-
company him to the house on North
Second street, and there they found a
child, which Nation first thought was
his own. A close examination convinc-
ed him, however, that he was mistaken.
and he left disappointed. No action was
taken by the authorities in the matter
and the strange woman soon after left
with the child.
In March, 1897, Humane officer Hall
of this city received a letter from the
mayor of Lexington, Mo, stating that a
white child, answering the description
of the missing Laura Nation, was in
custody of a negro woman there Ma
ton was notified, and he took the next
train for Lexington. Again he was
doomed to disappointment, for the ne
gro woman gave a good account of how
she secured the child, and her story was
verified by the authorities at Omaha,
where she had formerly resided.
This child, also bore some resem-
blance to the missing girl Nation re
turned home with the resolve to follow
no more cleWS, giving up the search as
hopeless. Last winter another strange
feature of the case developed. The body
of a murdered child was found in the
Missouri river east of Kansas City. A
rock had been attached to 1t to insure
speedy drowning. For over week the
body lay at the morgue IN Kansas CITY
received an anonymous communication
from Kansas City telling him that the
murdered child was his own. He hest
tated for some time. but finally decided
to go to Kansas City, for, dead or
alive, he wished to find his darling
Laura He examined closely the mat
ted locks, which were the color of those
of his child. A year and half had
elapsed since the girl had disappeared,
and the features of the dead child were
distorted, anyway, but there seemed to
be a resemblance All doubt was set at
rest when the anxious father made an
examination of the child's hip for a
birth-mark It was not there, and an
other disappointment was scored for
Nation and his anxious wife
A day or two later it was DISCOVERIES
that the body was that of little Belle
Carr. who had been drowned by her
father James Carr, the brutal muir
derer. was arrested and a few weeks
later he was hanged. All hope was
given up after this disappointment.to be
revived upon the receipt of the tele-
gram from st. Louis Mrs. Nation IS
anxiousIy awaiting tidings from her
husband. James Nation is employed
on a sand boat. At the time of his
daughters disappearance he owned a