The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1904-11-26
YOUNG PUTNEY
HAS TURNED UP
MISSING RICHMOND YOUTH
KANSAS CITY AND HAD NOT
BEEN KIDNAPPED.

aov.s story Was That ne hao En-
,,....a i'm the United States Army.
nidn.t Know What He Was Do
;na-said He Had Been Drinking.
had Jewels aud Money of His Sis
+a,-iu-Iaw-EnOrts to Get Him Out
of the Army.
g Touis Nov. 25.-Stephen Putney,
r the son of wealthy Richmond
wa shoe manufacturer, who disap-
,eared nine days ago while visiting
.ba Fine Arts building at the Worlds
Fair returned to-day to the Hamilton
Hotel where his brother, Langhorne
Putney, is stopping. in company of a
friend of the family, who had been
sent TO Kansas City to get the boy.
Young Putney, for whom the police
and his relatives have been searching
since the day after his disappearance,
was in Kansas City all the time, stop
ming at 62S Walnut street, it is stated.
His family refused to discuss Stephens
return. saying that his explanation Of
his absence was satisfactory and that
they desired no more publicity of the
affair.
Young Putney, when he so suddenly
disappeared, had with him jewels val
ned at more than $1,000. but had less
than 500 in money. The story that
Young Putney was kidnapped is dis
credited by the police.
Enlisted in the Army.
Later in the day the seal of silence
adhered to ever since the young mans
disappearance was broken by Lang
horne Putney, who said they were go
ing to 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 enabling him to
pass as of the required age without
difficulty. He was sent from Kansas
City to Jefferson Barracks, according
to LanghoFne Putney, and on Wednes-
day was recognized from published de-
scriptions Of him. 1t was this Off
GER Langhorne. Putney said, who had
accompanied Stephen to the hotel
Langhorne Putney thought that as
Stephen was only 16 years of age there
would be no difficulty about getting
him discharged from the army.
The brother of the youth said fur
Their that Stephen had been drugged
and abducted by three men with whom
he had taken a drink. Langhorne de-
clares that after the drink, Stephen
lost consciousness and remembered
nothing more until he found himself
in a strange city. Stephen was told
he was in Kansas City, Langhorne
says. He had no money and knew no
one to whom he could appeal for help.
He was ashamed to notify his family
of what had happened, and, discon-
solate. wandered about until he saw
a poster calling for army recruits. He
decided to enlist in the United States
army and went to the recruiting Of
fee.
Strayed Away From Sister-in-Law.
Putney's brother was overjoyed when
the young man reached the hotel to-
day and Immediately notified the other
members of the family 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 aft
q AldNAiiS SSpdTdleQ IOr a moment from
his sister-in-law, Mrs. Langhorne H.
Putney, whose purse, containing her
jewelry valued at more than $1,000 and
about $780, was in the young mans care.
He also had about S25 of his own
money.
At the headquarters of Col Ander-
son, IN command at Jefferson Bar
racks, 1t was stated to-day that moth
ing was known of the supposed en-
hstment of young Stephen Putney in
Kansas City. 1t was also stated that
to the commanding officers knowledge
the boy had not been received there.
Said He Was Fl Years Old.
Kansas City. Mo-. Nov. 25.-The po-
nee here to-day stated that Stephen
Putney, Jr., enlisted at the United
states recruiting station in this city
on last Monday, giving his age as 81
years He was assigned to the ar
tlllery service and requested that he
De stationed at st. Louis. He left for
Jsenerson Barracks, near ST. Louis, on
Tuesday.
r. n. Williams and r. T. Hancock
cousin and a friend of Putney, who
were in Kansas City conducting the
search for him, started for st. Louis
late to-day, upon receipt Of a telegram
announcing that he had returned there