The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1908-08-12

br6cQ > ScIlSdllOlldI SIdt0I1icIt ES-
wives the story of the most battling
aRl mysterious disappearance ever
kh0wp in the northwest. July Is, 1906.
more than two years ago, Mr.. and
Mrs r. L Britain, Of this city. were
camped at Toll Gate. One day their
ye-year-old son disappeared, and
from that day to this, Breen is the
only man who will say that he has
seen the youngster. Searching par
ties secured the mountains Tor weeks,
and one by one, the searchers gave
up hope Not so with the parents OF
the child. Firm in the belief that the
boy was abducted, they have left no
stone unturned to recover their lost
one. Mr.. Britain has spent no one
knows how many thousand dollars IN
the vain search, and today he firmly
believes that Breen will bring the boy
back to him.
How Breen Became Involved.
Breen's connection with the case
dates from the time the Hart boy was
picked up in Spokane under the belief
that he was Cecil Britain. The Hart
boy Was acquainted at Toll Gate, and
on being questioned by a detective
at Spokane he mentioned the names OF
several men in that vicinity he had
nedrd discussed in connection with the
Britain boys disappearance
Among those whom the Hart boy
Mentioned was James Breen, at that
ume involved in trouble because he
Al olerdrawn his bank account.
nFeen was later convicted sand sem
TAced 10 five Years in the state pen1-
~nuary at Walla Walla. The Spokane
"'VtiVe continued to work on the
V'Se ana Breen finally told him that
F Anew the circumstances of the dis
appearance Of Cecil Britain, that he
1'e" Where the boy was and that il
s'en an opportunity he could bring
-" hofne- The matter was taken up
Ae police and prosecuting officers
spokane and finally they prevailed
FOn Governor Mead to agree to par
oFeen II he would deliver the boy
us parents. Breen accepted the
%'eement and has been since working
vi the case
''0eN' VINO claims that the newspa-
.,S nave never given him a square
4 VIII tell but little of what he
or what he has done 1t IS
mat on two separate occasions
elhpted to invade the mountains
h% lie claims the Britain boy is
A e~ Heu and on each occasion he
i >, o@cA without the boy. but with
M. ->e which appeared to be plaus-
n. 1"e HrSt time it was the fires in
soc,..1,I'alnS ..ouA'alnS which kept him from
on5 P''SiiihS his mission. The sec
h., 'le-this was last week-ne said
Vas killed ''ii' 'iia' MS hors'
pect.s si''an family confidently ex-
bsn, ule lost boy to be returned to
nada '@S' Saturday night, and had
he .7pdratlons TO receive the boy
ho,Sa mat breen, who says that mis-
tg,no vas shot Saturday morning, re-
sava., ,'iioot the missing child, was
B,as. dow to Mrs Britain.
be r. @SS that he will leave again
Ia, ouhtalnS in a few DAYS and
Re &C VIII bring the child with him.
Rad ss mat it is up to him 60 make
u mat he can do so.
Sensational Statement.
edn,,,s Vpewritten statement was
so,t 'eN 10 Governor Mead in the
Rees rS seV he conditional pardon Tor
eias ;, This statement it is said, con-
esdy 9 Do. story of one of the most das-
e tba 'ioIs @ ever concocted. According
bis mosuy s1osy which is in circulation
lAan,,5p n5p,nlng' an organized gang had
|1@ but 70 70 steal the child, not @ of Brit
@siaess u John Smith. a Well known
l. boy ma man of this city. and hold
Britain Tor Tor ransom, but that The
he Birth hat the plotters would d not ,,,isura turn
sopld inn jmn,y boy loose for fear that he
~ las ~hd I'd that for that a'ers reason on the the
Been ,s,a Ssen held the past two years.
nNN.