The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-07-26

DANA VI. STRONG.
The Cameron. Mo. photographer. who has
sued his kidnapers for seoUtt.
REPUBLIC SPECIAL.
Cameron, No., July 2j.-One night many
years ago an undertaking establishment
burned in this city. and in the morning
there was found within the ruins charred
skeleton. Theorists have long been silent
about this particular incident. for in recent
years Cameron has come to be known as a
city of mysteries and just now the theorIst
is fascinated with no less than three live
ard fresh mystic problems. These are the
murder Of City Marshal George Fl. Leonard
the notorious Strong-Lawrence tar-aud-
feather episode and the mysterious disap-
pcarancc and death of the baby School
craft
The murder Of Marshal Leonard occurred
in 1898, and Robert Cushenberry. a Kansas
negro. is now serving a committed life ser
tence FOR that crime; but 100 citizens who
lad offered a reward for L.eonard's slayer
are now wagins a battle in the courts be
cause they believe Cushenberry innocent
ard the reward Yet unsarned.
They recite that Leonard was shot hv
some one in the night shadows of the juno
tion Depot. and that Cushenberrys !denti-
fication was impossible. One of the legal
ward and TO secure Cushenberry's pardon
was fought before a Justice OF the Peace
at Lathrop. and continued eight days. proh-
ably being the longest and costliest justice
court case on record here. 1t developed the
TACT that Leonard's real slayer may never
be known.
STRoNG-LAwRENCE CASE
The Strong-Lawrenca case involves a
mystery that will probably be solved in
The Circuit Court at Piattsburg next Sep
tember. Dana VI. Strong. a popular young
photographer. has filed 0ccG damage suit
against W. B. Lawrence. Sewell Brown. Lee
Brown and Doctor ]. F. Macarthur. all OF
Cameron. He alleges KIDNAPPING. assault,
'arrins and feathering and unlawful iEl
prisnnnent.
His attorney. John A. Cross. declares the
case will reveal remarkable story of love
and intrigue among staid and respected Cit
liens, and IL murder plot that viii have
ilace in the history of sensational crime.
j. Ed Goodrich and John Albert Clark. at
iorncys for the defendants, have twice at
tempted to secure Strons's deposition, hut
each time have been bafffed. What his tes-
timory will be can. therefore. only be con-
jertUred.
The popular story is 10 the effect that one
night last January Strong was called to
the telephone by some one who simulated
woman's voice. Ii tones of distress he
was implored t. hasten to her assistance.
Strong went to the home of Mrs. w. B.
Kside and retired. Strong gazed about and
found himself covered with a pistol in
the hands OF the husband. A struggle en-
sued, and oy some unexplained coincidence
the decoyed photographer discovered that
there were present Sewell F. Brown and
his son. father and brother of Ms. Law
renee. and Doctor Macarthur the Lawrence
family physician.
Strong alleges he lost consciousness dur
ing the assault and that four hours after
ward he found himself tied and tarred and
feathered. Late that night he was taken
10 his own doorstep by his four captors.
The Browns and Doctor Macarthur disclaim
participation in the affair. The where
abcuts of Lawrence and his wife has since
been unknown.
BABY SCHOOLCRAFT CASE.
The disappearance of little Mary SCHOOL,
craft from the homo of her parents, three
miles from here, few days ago. and the