Evening star., 1901-05-07
Boy Resembling Willie Mccormick
Seen With the Gypsies.
POSITIVE IDENTIFICATION OF PICTURE
Virginia Residents, White and COL
ored, Make Statements.
S RICH IN PROG r E s S

Residents of Alexandria county, Va, are
showing considerable interest in the of
Willie Mccormick the Highbridge, n. Y,
boy who was probably kidnapped the 9th of
March. His uncle, Mr. Michael G. McCor-
mick of this city, is still actively engaged in
the search and he has by no means given
up hope of eventually returning the missing
boy to his parents. The latter are now al
most physical wrecks because agony of sus-
pense has been more than they could stand
Unless something develops before long 1t
is feared one or perhaps both of them may
die or become insane. A Star reporter Wis
iteG that portion of Alexandria county ad-
jacent to the place where the gypsies
camped near Addison's Heights, and one
colored woman. Mrs. Ella Gaines, gave in
formation of having seen an American boy
in the camp with the Russians.
She related her experience at the camp
and gave a splendid description of the boy
whom she saw with the gypsies. This de-
Scription tallies in every respect with that
of the High Bridge boy even to his wearing
apparel.
Recognized wilIie's Photograph.
When shown the photograph of the boy
she declared the likeness was that of the
boy she had seen in the ca mp.
Two other women who were shown the
picture expressed the belief that it was
likeness of the same boy. During the time
the gypsies were in camp at Addison s
Heights the colored people in the surround
ing country visited the place in large num-
bers. Several of them visited the camp the
Monday previous to the day the detectives
made the search and the boy referred to eX-
cited their admiration
He ain one Of them Turks" one of the
women remarked. That boy was stolen
by the GNpsies.
This remark attracted general attention
to the lad. and all the colored people
agreed that he could not possibly have
been the child of one of the gypsies From
that time until the day the camp was
searched the colored people did not allow
their children to visit the camp unaccom-
panied by an older person.
Disappeared Before Officers Arrived
Not only did the boy excite the curiosity
or the colored people. but y number of
white people also noticed him. One Of
these was Mr.. Charles Mudd
He spoke to the boy about his antace-
dents. but the latter declined to discuss the
question. Mr.. Mudd was so much i'm
pressed by the boys appearance that he
discussed the matter at his boarding house
This boy, Mr.. Mudd declares, disappeared
from the camp shortly before the visit Of
the detectives. While he could not posi-
lively identify the photograph, his general
NI's,i iltioii VI tiIc DoS tdill2S with that of
Willie Mccormick.
For some days past rumor has been in
circulation to the effect that boy in the
camp died or was killed and his body Gre
mated.
This piece Of gossip could not be verified
this afternoon by Star reporter who visit
ed the vicinity of where the eypses We're
encamped. When the gypsies left that
part of the county the residents We're
greatly relieved, for they had been CON
s1deraby wrought up over the presence in
the camp of the boy whom they believed
had been stolen.
Miss POlIard's Opinion.
That picture looks very much like that
of the boy who was in the camp" Miss
Addie Pollard remarked to Star reporter
The boy was quiet and had but little to
say. He acted like a boy who was in a
strange place and didn't know what to do.
He had dark hair and his look was en-
tirely different from the others I'm sure
he wasn't a member of one of the gypsy
families
Constable Joseph Lipscomb of Alexan-
dria county is interested in the case and