Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1909-04-03
FATHER MasLEp BY CROOKS
WHO DEMANDED RANSOM.
Boy Missing Since February Drowned
in Lake-skates Found on His Feet
When Body Was Recovered-Police
Of the Country Had Been on Lookout
for Lad and Seeking Capture Of Kid
nappers.

found this morning In Thread lake.
The body was found floating on the
surface of the lake by Bert Robson,
who had been searching for it there for
DAYS. A pair of skates fastened to the
little feet bore mute testimony to the
manner Of the lads death. His hands
were still covered with the mittens
which the boy wore when he went thru
the ice. The boys father prosecuted
search for the son far and WIDE He is
supposed to be in Chicago today inves-
tigating reports that the son had been
seen there.
It was Harold's 17-year-old sister,
Marina, who first learned today the
missing boy had not been stolen but
was dead. She broke the news to the
mother, who for five weeks has been
enduring the strain of not knowing
whether her son. was dead or alive.
Heartbroken as the news was, the
mother expressed feeling of relief
to have the strain of the past weeks
removed A telegram was sent 1mmed-
lately to Moon notifying him of the
finding of the body.
Young Moons Disappearance.
Thread pond is q small body of water
about thirty-stx by forty rods in area
a mile from Flint. The pond is used
by icemen for the ice harvest. Harold
Moon was last seen on Feb. 27, going
in the general direction Of the pond
with his skates over his shoulders.
When he did not return home for sup
per that night his parents began a
search for him. There was noeevldence
along the river banks or about the
pond that he had fallen thru the Ice
Then stories became current that a
Atrange man had been seen leading the
boy away. The police were notified
and the officers Of adjoining cities
were asked to be on the lookout for
him. Several days later it was reported
from Pontiac that a lad of Harold's de-
scription had been seen with stranger
in a freight car. This clue was followed
without results. It was followed by
a report that he had been seen in On
tario. This also was investigated by
the Flint officers without success. Then
rewards were offered.
Citizens Give Aid.
A meeting of business men was held
and a total of $1,000 was subscribed to
be paid for information that would lead
to the boys return. Detective agen-
cies, police departments and newspa-
pers all over the country were sup
piled with pictures and descriptions of
the missing lad. With the failure of
all efforts to discover any trace of Har-
old. systematic dragging Of Flint river
was begun. For twenty five miles its
bottom was searched without results.
Then it was decided to begin a careful
examination ofsThread pond Part of
the water was drained out of it yes
lterday, and today Robson found the
little body. The legs were caught fast
IN the weeds at the bottom. Ut was
Immediately identified and taken to the
morgue.
Grafters Fool the Father.
Luman N. Moon, the father of Har-
old, left here Thursday night for Della
van, Wis, near Chicago, in response to
letter which he had received from an
anonymous correspondent who prom
tsed to deliver up his boy upon the
payment Of a ransom of $500. Detec-
tives were to meet Moon in Chicago
and accompany him to Delavan to make
an Investigation before the father paid
out any money. The letter stated the
writer had Harold in his possession,
and that If the father would come to
Delavan at certain time on certain
train and deposit $500 at the mouth of
cannon on the open square in town,
the boy would be restored to him inside
Of half hour. 1t was the fathers in
tention to write a note and leave 1T in
the cannon, stating that if the kidnap-
pers would have Harold write him
letter in his own handwriting, he would
Immediately place the money in the
cannon.