The Roswell daily record. [volume] (Roswell, N.M.) 1903-current, 1909-10-01
SAYS HE WAS KIDNAPPED
AN0 RROsT TO ROSWELL

being re-published in that paper from
the Mineral Wells, Texas, Index, and
Roswell figures prominently in the
story. although w. X. Bell is not
known to several old timers who were
interviewed on the subject today:
Perhaps no roa in the South has
hauled more distinguished persons
than has the Weatherford. Mineral
Wells and Northwestern; and this
distinction also applies in n matter
of queer specimens of humanity and
persons out of the ordinary for df
vers reasons.
On yesterday afternoon, however, |
Conductor William Burdg and Brake-
man Robert Wynne net the most re-
markable cas- in their experience on
he Dandy Little Road" Longing
about the Texas & Pacific station a
Weatherford was a young man wait
ing for the Minearl Wells train-the |
one that arrives here at 7:55 p. IN.
Alady at the restaurant where the
train crew take their meal had heard
what she considered somewhat pecI-
liar history concerning the young
man. and this she communicated to
Messrs. Burdg and Wynne. Coming
out they managed to draw the young
fellow out. and heard a remarkable
story. savoring somewhat of the no
mantle. IL story in substance. is
as follows:
Seventeen years ago. according to
the young man. who said he had been
going under the name of George Will
son. he was living with his parents
near Jacksboro. One day a man
rode up to his her house leading
a pinto Shetland pony. After e1gag
ing the boy in conversation at some
length. the man, h gave his name
as w. X. Bell mot our w. K.) asked
the boy whose real name was Turner
Durham. how he would like to go with
him and run cattle. Boylike. altho'
young, Wilson or Durham, was only
seven years of age, he was capbivated
by the allurilg pictures painted by
Bell. and especially by the pretty pin
to pony. The result was that he went
with Bell.
They hurriedly went to Fort Worth
where they shipped a full cattle out
fit to Roswell. New Mexico. The
young man saysl upon arriving at
Roswell the same horses were saddled
and they rode out some eight miles
from Roswell. where Bell had a ranch.
At first. says young Durham. he was
put in the kitchen with Mrs. Bell,
where he worked some six months.
In the meantime he says he was
treated with the utmost kindness by
Bell and mis- wife. Being so young
he soon lost out as to memory of his
people and his ack county home. aui
eventually he vas led to believe that
his people were all dead. and that his
name was George Wilson.
Later he was taken with the outfit
gathering cattle. which We're driven
over the old Chisholm trail TO Calves
Ton and there shipped to Cuba. TO
which island young Durham made
several trips.
Besides himself. Durham says Bell
had five other boys whom he EN-
listed" in the same manner as ne, aid
which the young man calls "kidnap-
ping" In no instance does he charge
that Bell was in Other than the legitf
mate business of buying and shipping
cattle TO Cuba. and says Bells treat
ment of the boys was at all times
kind and liberal. hut that all were
continually watched and not allowed
to wander away or to talk TO stran-
gers.
While on one of these drives to Gal
| weston Durham says he came near
being killed. The cattle stampeded.
and in attempting to escape the mad
dened herd he jumped mis- horse into
a deep ravine. The horse fell upon
him. breaking his arm and a deg and
bruising hin up severely. Besides,
he fell upon a nile of brush 'and one
NIdS iit iditu Ia AittN- n q
frightful wound. He was encased in
pulaster of paris and lay for weeks
in a helpless condition-how long ne
does not remember.
Recently Bell has been making a
sort of headquarters al Galveston.
buying cattle along the coast and in
land. II was while young Durham
was at the railway station in Calves
ton awaiting a train to Roswell nat
he by chance met Carter Thompson
sheriff of Jack County. After ne had
old the sheriff his cal name. it de-
veloped that the sheriff knew his peo- |
pie near Jacksboro. and hen n
latter remarked lat a. Durham
had lost a boy about seventeen years
ago. and called owe the names of he |
different members of the family. |
Durham says his mind at once went
back to his Jack County home and
his parents and that it all came back
to him vividly.
He AT once made up his mind to |
come home. and bought a ticket for
Fort Worth. He SAYS Bell overheard
his conversation with the sheriff. and
tried TO persuade him from coming
home. Failing in this. he says. Bell
made a clean breast of the whole af-
fair and told him his history. Bell
came to Fort Worth with him. in the
meantime offering him great induce
ments to remain with him, but the
story of the sheriff lac awakened in
him a longing TO see his father and
mother. and. he says no power could
change his mind.
At Fort Worth Bell gave him a
check for 5000 and he (Bell) depart
ed for Pecos. so young Durham
thinks.
Durham a called up his parents
by long distance phone and their Joy
he says. was too much for him and
he hung UP the receiver and took the
train for Weatherford. In his haste
he ,ienarfed ON a through mail line |