The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-03-24
RAY OLSON GONE.
Ten Year Old East Side School
Boy Drops Out of Sight.
Started to School in Morning
and Is Seen No More.
PARENTS ARE FRANTIC
Fear That the Child Is Victim
of Foul Play.
BOY Was of a Quiet Disposition
and Fond of Home.

das the recent sensation concerning
the big Cleveland kidnapping case ap-
pealed to some of the so called ''bul-
hes in the east side of the city and
lnst1gated them to attempt a crime OF
the same nature?
This is the impending fear in the
ne1ghborhood of GIT East Eleventh
street where the family of NJ. L. Olson
reside, and where the little ten wear
old son has disappeared and not been
seen by his family since early Tuesday
morning when he left the house for
school.
The case is a mysterious one and
mas aroused the whole east side of the
city. 1t seems that Tuesday morning
Ray olson left his home at a few min
utes after O'Clock to go to his regu-
lar classes at Branner school. which is
situated a number of blocks away
from his home at the corner of Bran
ner and Third street. He bid the
members Of the family goodbye as
of sight.
AT noon when it was time for the
school to let out and the children to
come home some of the little boys
companions stopped at the house to
find out why little Raw did not attend
be ill. ~
This aroused the suspicious of the
famlly and they started an investiga-
ton at once Different mem bers of
the family were sent over the route to
the school and the teacher of the boy
was questioned. She stated that the
boy had not been at his desk that
morning and she had heard nothing of
MIN. Every playmate of the boy was
seen but none of them had seen him
that morning and they knew nothing
of his whereabouts.
Didn't Come Home at Night.
The family waited and waited think
ing that the boy might have gone to
the city for some reason or other and
when darkness settled over the little
home it was a sad frantic family that
waited uneasily under the small roof
The father had stopped his work and
was bending every effort toward the
recovery of the child. The family has
been reading of the terrible kidnap-
ing crimes in the east and pictures of
their little child in the hands of a ruff
fan caused them fearful alarm.
Late into the night the hopeful
father hunted for the child making
inquiries all over the east part of the
city even asking the swftchmen and
yard employees of the Santa Fe if they
had caught glimpse of a youngster
in knee trousers with light hair and
blue eyes.
There is little reason to think that
the boy ran away from home. He was
very quiet and well behaved child. He
seemed very well satisfied with home
school and playmates. He never staid
out nights or had any disagreement at
home.
Rays playmates are of the same char
acter. They are all school children and
belong to some of the best families on
the east side. They all report the good
behavior of the boy and none of them
have ever heard of any complaints
as to his home life or school
work.
Principal Humphrey w. Jones, of
Branner school, says that the boy is
a bright little youngster and he always
commanded good grades. There was no
need for his disappointment in school
work.
NJ. L. Olson is employed by the city
street department and is a good hard
workman. He has a family of nine chill
dren and lives at 917 East Eleventh
street. He is not a rich man and the
reason for the theft of the child-if this
is the case-is not known
The little boy, Ray Olson. is 10 years
old, is rather small for his age, has
blue eyes and light hair, and a scar on
his cheek. When last seen he wore gray
knee pants, black stockings, a black
coat, and a black plush cap.