The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-11-26
OUT OF THE NIGHT
Of THE UNKNOWN
Putney Comes Back With
Strange Story.
DRUGGED, KIDNAPPED
What Followed His Drinking with Three
Men in ST. Louis Until His Return
TO Consciousness in Kansas
City He Does Not
Know.
CBy the Associated PressD

st. Louis Mo. Nov. 25.-Stephen
Putney. Jr.. the son Of wealthy
Richmond, Va. manufacturer, who
disappeared nine days ago while Wis
ting the fine arts building at the
Worlds Fair returned today to the
Hamilton Hotel, where his brother,
Langhorne Puiney is stopping. in
company Of q friend Of the family
who had been sent to Kansas City to
set the boy. Young Putney. for
whom the police and his relatives
have been searching since the day af-
Ter his disappearance was in Kansas
City all the time, stopping at 623
Walnut street il IS stated His family
refused to discuss Stephens return,
saying that his explanation Of his alb
s,mce was satisfactory and that The"
desired no more publicity Of the af-
fair.
Young Putney when he so sudden
~ disappeared, had with him jewels
valued at more than $1,000, but had
less than $100 i'm money.
The story that young Putney was
Kidnapped is discred:ted by the pO-
lice
Later i'm the day the seal Of silence
adhered to ever since the young man 5
disappearance was broken by Lang
horne Putney. VII said they were go
ing 10 Jefferson Barracks TO see what
could be done about getting Stephen
Putney discharged from the army.
According to the statement made by
him stephen enlisted in the army at
Kansas City, his size readily enabling
him to pass as Of the required age
without difficulty. He was sent from
Kansas City to jefferson Barracks. ac-
cording 10 Lmghorne Puney, and ON
I W edueSdaY WAS recognized from pub
.lshed descriptions of him.
LanghoTne PutnCy thought that as
Stephen was only 16 years old there
would be no difficulty about getting
him discharged from the army.
The brother Of the youth said that
Stephen had been drugged and alb
Quoted by three men with whom he
had taken a drink. LanghOrue de-
clares that after the drink stephen
lost consciousness and remembered
nothing more until he found himself
III a strange city stephen was told he
was in Kansas City, LanghOrne SAYS.
He had 10 money and knew no one to
whom he could appeal for nclp. He
was ashamed to notify his family OF
what had happened. and, d!sconso-
late. wandered about until he saw "a
poster calling for army recruits. H
CeCHib0 10 tNllSl III lIe tHiLeb 'NldltH
army and went to the recruiting office,
Putneys brother was oyerjoyed
when the young man reached the no.
tel today and at once notified the
other members Of the family who are
at Richmond Va. of his safe return.
Langhorne says stephen met the
three men while he was in the Fine
Arts building at the Worlds Fair just
after having separated for moment
from his sistcr-in-law, Mrs. Lang
horne Fl. Putney. whose purse con
tanning her jeWelry valued at more
than ST ,00G and about $50 was in the
young mans care. He also had about
SO of his own money.
At the headquarters of Col. Ander-
son, in command Of jefferson Bar.
racks it was stated today THAI nothing
.yas known of the supposed enlist
nent Of young Stephen Putney in
Kansas city IT was also stated that
to the commanding officers llnoWl-
edge the boy had not been received
there.