Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1901-10-10
The stone CAPTURE
4 Report Made on the Case Of the
American Missionary.
EFFORTS TO SECURE Her RELEASE.


Hartford, Conn, Oct 9.-After de-
votional exercises at yesterday even
ihg's session Of the American board
President s. B. Capen, LII. D., read
the official report Of the board con-
corning the captivity and ransom OF
Miss Ellen M. Stone. The report was
a follows:
There is much universal interest in
The case OF Miss Ellen NJ. Stone, now
n the hands Of the brgands, that it
seems wise for the officers OF the
board to make a brief statement of
the facts as they exist at the present
time. For several weeks the govern
ment authorities at Washington have
been at work, using every possible ef-
tort to secure her release. These have
been days of deep anxiety for the
officers OF the board. We have been
In frequent communication with our
representative in Constantinople. Last
Thursday we received dispatch from
Washington which told us how in
creasingly grave the situation had be-
come. On the receipt of this tele-
gram meeting of the prudential
committee was hastily called to meet
the following day at ~ o'clock. The
committee came together and dis
cussed the situation most thoroughly.
On the enc side was the life of
dearly beloved missionary; on the
other side was the fact that II we
yielded to this demand for ransom it
was putting premium upon the lives
Vt every missionary Of the American
board, and not Of our board only, but
missionaries Of every society in the
world. The question was even
broader than the case Of mission
aries; It practically concerned the
safety Of any and every American
citizen. Recognizing the full gravity
Of the situation, the committee, with.
ont . dissenting vote, decided that it
had no right to pay a ransom and
establish precedent which would
he sure to be dangerous in all the
future. Furthermore we were re-
strained by the further fact that we
have no funds that could be employed
for this purpose. The government
was restrained from paying the
money by constitutional limitation.
and the American board seemed
equally restrained from paying ran
som.
The sollcitnde Of the committee
was such, and their purpose to do
everything was so strong that they
sent q deputation consisting of the
president and one Of its secretaries
10 Washington to meet President
Roosevelt and the officials Of the state
department. This conference was
held last Saturday forenoon. They
assured us that apparently at the mo
ment the only practicable method to
secure her life was TO have the funds
promptly at hand to pay the ransom.
1t was eveidently the positive con-
viction OF the government that this
step was the first one to be taken.
But It ought to be clearly understood
that this It but one step; that when
she II relcrscd there win i" viuor-
Gus attempt not only to seclire the
return of the money, but. further
more, to bring about such conditions
that such an occurrence shall not be
possible In the future. No one doubts
that our government as at present
organized will not drop this matter
until the rights of American citizen
ship are established.
Meanwhile movement was begun
under the leadership Of the family of
Miss Stone TO secure by popular ap-
peal the amount OF the ransom and
notices had already been sent out
that funds could be sent to Kidder,
Peabody & Co., OF Boston, who had
consented TO act as treasurer Of the
fund.
Money in sums large and small has
Sbsen received in answer to this ap-
peal to humanity, The government
has showed It's supreme interest in
Nils matter by already becoming the
custodian Of this fund as handed to
Mem by the firm Of Kidder, Peabody
. Co. This plan not only shows the
governments interest, but 1t guards
any possibility that any part of the
money will be paid over until Miss
Stone personally has been placed in
safsty in the hands Of the proper au.
fhorities.
The Stone Ransom Fund.
| Boston, Oct, 9.--No additional state
iment Of money received for the ran
som fund for Miss Stone was given
out by Kidder, Peabody & Co. after
the one Of the late afternoon showing
ol0,574.6l IL cash and $1,000 in un-
paid pledges. This made the total
ea6,574.61. to which will be added in
~ morning the sums received over
aight. The rush Of contributors is
ever, because of the general opinion
that the critical moment has been
ayerted and that a months time Of
fers ample opportunity to add To the
fund. Mr.. Charles A. Stone, brother
81 the captive missionary, is still anx-
lens about getting the total Of $780,
10.
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A Double Hanging.
Philadelphia, Oct. 9.--Charles Perry
and Henry Ivory, colored. were