Milford chronicle., 1904-10-28
4 A4-YEAR-OLD BOY
FONND MURDERED
child Kidnapped at PhOeni1vill'' Pa
O- vouud Dead in Vacant House
.,v aypsIES ARE UNDER ARREST

A. Ass-7''%'
0,u.de,phia. Oct. 24.-With his fore
IA crushed and the throat cut the
sS p'sS of 4year-old Michael MiorsKi'
poa' Kidnapped from near his home
WIZ nDUsoenIxville, 2s miles from this city,
,.-i,av y night by a band of men sup
.ssd I TO be gypsies, was found in an
lS.ndoned farm house few miles
valley Forge. In connection
III IN tho murder six men belonging to
~ nartv of gypsies were arrested by
- police Carter, OF Phoenixville,
,overal constables, and after an
aHJ Hs,,,nq time we're lodged in the jail at
~, Mace Only the courage and quick
sat,on of the police saved the prisoners
from being roughly handled by a large
crowd Of excited people.
The child was picked up Friday night
Nv marty of men who were driving
,b-ongh the town in two covered wag-
ons A boy saw them take the child,
hut before he could attract any ones
a,tsntion to pursue the kidnappers they
nod disappeared. All day Saturday and
saturday night searching parties were
out irving to trace the wagons, but
witbout success. Yesterday morning,
while three men were in the woods
Gathering chestnuts, they accidentally
came across the body of the boy in
deserted house. Nearby lay club with
hair and blood on it. The authorities
we're quickly notified, and the entire
nollee force of Phoenixville and vicin- |
itv was started out in search of gypsy |
hands. During the afternoon one party |
came across a company of them and
took them into custody. They are
Henry and Robert Wells, Michael and
Barney Dougherty, Samuel Rigler and
George WolYerton. They all denied
any knowledge OF the crime.
The report that the gypsies had been
arrested soon spread through Phoenix
vile, and hundreds of men and women
gathered near the Sail. AS the prison.
ers were brought through the streets
there were cries of Lynch them! Burn
them!" The officers drew their revol-
yers and kept the angry crowd back.
At the lookup a large crowd was gath
cred, and the officers had difficulty in
getting their prisoners through the
threatening mob into jail The pris
Oners were badly frightened.
There is a growing belief that the
gypsies had no hand in the murder.
Robert M. SINNERS returned from
the gypsy camp at Williams Corners,
where he made a search for evidence
Sainting to members of the band now
Ield as prisoners as having been i'm
,licated in the murder. He stated that
lie was satisfied that they had nothing
o do with the crime. A small bloody
hirt was found near the hOvel where
he body of the murdered lad was dis
overed, which is regarded as an i'm
,ortant clue, and one which may lead
o the arrest of the murderers. A care
ul inspection of the locality was
made, and footprints were found lead
ng from there to the KnickerbOcker
am, at Charlestown, where a second
and of gypsies was encamped last
friday night. Some time late Friday
light that band of gypsies broke camp
nd hurried away. Officials are now
couring the country for the missing
ypses; the belief being that when
hey are found light will be thrown on
he murder. Measurements of the foot
rints were taken and compared with
he shoes worn by the prisoners at
he jail. They did not correspond in
ny way and the opinion is now gen
raj among the police that they are in
ocent of completely or knowledge Of
he murder.