The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1904-11-25
a Six-Foot, Sixteen-Year-Old Ath-
lete Missing at the ST. Louis
Worlds Fair.
RELATIVES BELIEVE A WOMlN
HOLDS HIN FOR RANSOM.
Zones From the First Families oi
Virginia, and His Father Il Said
10 he a Millionaire shoe Mcr-
chant of the Capital City of /. hat
state.

st. Louis, Nov. 2O-Has Stepher
Putney, Jr.. of Richmond, Va, son of &
millionaire. six feet tall, an athlete
and 16 years old. been kidnapped, and is
he being held for ransom?
This is the belief of his relatives
who came with him to the Worlds fair
and it is the theory of the police who
are seaching for him.
The circumstances of his disappear
ance last Wednesday, and particularly
an incident which occurred one day
last week, lead to the belief that the
athletic young Virginian was shared
by beautiful woman, and is being
fOreibly detained by her accomplices.
Putney arrived in st. Louis two
weeks ago from Richmond in the COM
pany of his brothers wife, Mrs. Lang
horn Putnev. and three other women,
relatives. The party engaged rooms al
s028 Horton place and proceeded to see
the Worlds fair.
One day last week Putney went dowr
town and the rest of the party went tC
the exposition. When they went again
ut night Putney told his sister-in-law
that while down town he had been
stopped in the street by woman who
accosted him by name and said she
had known him in Virginia.
He told her, he said, that he did not
remember her, and failed to ask her
name, although they chatted for sew
eral minutes before parting.
He described her as beautiful WON
an, fashionably dressed and of fasci-
mating manner.
The incident was dismissed from the
minds of the party as being of no con
sequence.
Wednesday afternoon at four O'Clock
Putney disappeared from the ken of
His relatives Since that time they
have heard nothing of him.
They believe the woman who stopped
him ON the street is responsible for his
ABSENCE
At the time of the disappearance,
Mrs. Langhorne Putney and young
Putney were in the Palace of Fine |
Arts. Mrs. Putney was carrying Il |
catalogue and q handbag. AS this was
Putney offered to carry
the handbag for her. She gave it to
him, first explaining that it contained
der jewels in chamois skin bag, and
warning him to be careful of it.
Mrs. Putney does not know whether
my person overheard their converse
ton on the subject.
After escorting the ladies about for
D few minutes, Putney excused himself
10 step into another room, saying he
would return soon.
An hour passed and he had not come
back, and, making thorough search
IF the galleries, the party returned to
The house in Horton place, believing
hat he had accidentally missed them
md would return home.
He did not come back that night,
md Mrs. Putney telegraphed to his
,ather in Richmond and his brother,
.4anghorn Putney, in Boston. Lang
horn Putney will arrive in st. Louis
or his brother.
MIS- Langhorn Putney does not be-
feve that young Putney has been in
ured or killed, but thinks he probably
net the mysterious woman again at
he Worlds fair, Wednesday afternoon.
While he is so large and physically so
relI developed, he is only 16 years old,
nd his relatives believe he naturally I
TouId be easily influenced by wom- .
a, especially il she were beautiful,
lever and Of good manners. .
The Putneys are of the highest So
fal connection in Virginia. Mrs. Put
ey is the daughter of former United
tates Senator Robert E. Withers and q
! the president of the Daughters OF )
he Confederacy in Richmond. Stephen t.
utney, ST., the boys father. is d
hoIesale shoe merchant, and reported
, be q millionaire.