Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1906-06-16
HAVE NO CLUE TO
KIDNAPPED BOY
Was Drcoyed From School and Car
ried Oil by Unknown Man.
PARENTS ON VERGE COLLAPSE

Philadelphia. juno li.-Despite the
extraordinary efforts of the police and
private detectives. not the faintest clue
has yet been found that would lead To
tho whereabouts of Charles Frederic
Muth. the 7-year-old son OF wealthy
iewelcr. who was decoyed from school
by a forged note delivered by mes
senger boy and abducted Three ar
rests OF persons who were suspected of
knowing something of the case were
made. but after thorough examine
ton they were discharged by the po-
lice. The father OF the missing child
believes the boy was kidnapped out OF
revenge by a man who had served time
in prison for attempting to rob his
iewclry store.
The postal authorities are also work.
ing on the case. cndeavoring To locate
the man who sent letter to the fam
lily, in which he informed them the
hoy would be- returned. The letter had
the appearance of having been written
by n feminine hand. and the authori-
ties are accordingly working on the
theory that a woman might be involv-
cd in the abduction. The parents OF
the child are CONSIDERING the advisa-
hility OF Offering a reward. but the DO.
lice have advised them not TO do so
for the present
The boy was lured from school by
tho startling announcement that his
mother was seriously Ill in a hospital.
was turned over to an unknown man
by a messenger boy and abducted.
The messenger hoy in the case told
the police that he was asked by a man
To take note to school house, two
square from the Muth home The note
was addressed to the principal. and re-
quested the teacher TO send the child
home with the messenger. She COM
piled with the request. and the unsus-
pecting messenger boy escorted the
child to nearby street corner. where
the man took the young boy in charge
and boarded street car. As the mes
senger boy turned over the child he
heard the stranger say to the little fel.
low: I'm going to take you TO see youi
sick mamma in the hospital" That was
the last seen of the child.
The boy not coming home from the
school. search was made for him
Later the police were notified. which
resulted in discovering that the child
had been kidnapped The messenger
hoy described the stranger as man
of abOnt IS or 80 years of age. He wore
a Vandyke heard and had been seen in
the vicinity OF the Muth home last
week The parents of the missing boy
have no clue To the strangers identity
nor do they know of any reason for his
abduction
Later the parents of the missing
child received a special delivery letter
II was unsigned and informed I'll
family that the child would be returned
and for them not to worry. II also
warned them not TO stir up the neigh.
bors or the police.
The whole city Is being searched
and the police of other cities have
been asked to cooperate with the 10
cal authorities. Every avenue of es'
cape is being guarded. and If the boy
and his abductors are still In the city
the police are confident of getting ut
them before long.
Tho father and mother of the kid
mapped boy are distracted. Though
suffering severely from the shock oc'
casioncd by the abduction OF her son
Mrs Ninth is hearing up well. She
has not yet given up hope. but II Is
feared that the strain under which
she Is laborine may cause her com
plcte collapse AT any moment