The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-03-01
CITIZENS WILL SEARCH
MAYOR CALLS ON THEM ro HINT
FOR YOUNG sTANsFTELp.
Proclamation Issued After n Confer
ence OF Mayor and the Father
of the Missing Boy.

Il feel that every citizen should ac.
special officer in searching his own neigh
borhood to see If Thornton StansfieId. the
young son OF the Rev. Joshua Stansfield,
who has been missing from his home since
last TUESDAY, is in the city, or if by any
possibility he has met with foul play. L
nave talked with the Rev. Mr.. Stansfield
on this subject, and i think that every
man. especially those who have children
or their own. should take 1t as a personal
duty to assist in the search for the boy.
The anguish of the boys parents is great.
The length Of time that the boy has been
missing Is alarming. For this reason 1 am
impelled through a sense Of duty as the
executive of this city to ask each man,
woman and child to take up the matter to
alleviate in a measure, at least, the suf-
ferings of the parents"
Mayor Bookwalter issued his proclama-
ton last midnight after a conference with
DR.. Stansfield. at which they discussed
theories on which some slight clew might
be traced. DR.. Stansfield said he had very
little on which to work. He had given the
matter earnest thought, yet when he con-
sidered the boys previous character and
habits these theories were quickly dis
PEELED.
SPECIAL POLICE IN SEARCH.
The mayor, before issuing his proclama-
ton to the citizens, instructed the police
last night at roll call to exert themselves
during their rounds of the city last night
to watch for any slight clew that might
lead to the discovery of the missing boy
Mayor Bookwalter said that if no tidings
q
ing a number of special police will be at
Superintendent Taffe's disposal to do MOTH
ing else but search for young Stansfield
He SAID he intended sitting the matter to
the bottom to show that the boy was not
within the city limits nor had met With
foul play. He discredied the story OF KID
naping, as did DR.. StanSfleld. Sucn stories,
they said, were ridiculous. Neither could
see what motive any one could nave Tor
abducting the boy.
DIR. Stansfeld remained up the greater
part of last night in the hope that he
would receive some good news about his
missing boy. He said there was but one
slight clew on which he was at work and
if that failed he did not know which way
tc turn. He has been apprised by FARMER
at Lawrence, this county, that boy an
swering Thornton Stantield's description
was seen to board freight train In that
locality last Wednesday. The train was
on the Cleveland division of the Big Four
Railroad. The boy at the time had sack
train stopped at Lawrence he walked to
the front of the train, where he remained
The train did not stop again until IL
reached Anderson. Mr.. Stansheld SAID ne
has made an effort to see the conductor
of that train, but has been informed that
he will not arrive in this city until this
morning at o'clock. He thinks that II
the farmers story be true the conductor
may be able to throw some light ON the
boys whereabouts for that day at least
MAY HAVE GONE TO MICHIGAN.
Dr. Stansfield said he is of opinion that
the boy might have boarded the train, in
tending to visit his sister in Michigan. He
also thinks that the boy, through a prank
ish spirit, boarded a train and after find
ing himself so far from the city that 1t
would take some time to return, felt shame
and decided to go on TO the Michigan town
where his sister resides.
DIR. and Mrs. Stansfield and other men,
bers of the family and friends of the fam
ilv are greatly distressed, although hoping
for early good tidings.
The report from Brazil and Terre Haute
received here Friday night were closely
followed by the police OF this city by tele-
graph and telephone, but 1t is the opinion
now that the police officials In that town
were mistaken. 49,
tive departments and also DR.. StanSneid
received numerous reports from people In
ali sections of Marion county telling OF
how passing through their territory at
some time since his disappearance. These
reports were quickly investigated. but were
found to be in all cases baseless -
The police and detective department VIII
start on a more active campaign or IN
vestigation this morning. 1t is likely that
the extra policemen to be appointed by
Mayor Bookwalter will be put 10 WORK
nv o'clock They will be continued on
duty throughout the day. The day men,
both regulars and others, will be required
to remain on duty until midnight. Iney
viii work in connection with the other
night policemen.