The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-04-04
Dead Body In Pond Clears Up Remarkable Case
SCHEME 10 OBTAIN MONEY
Crooks Hear of Boys Disappearance and Try to Make Father Believe They Had Kidnapped Him
 For Ransom.

Flint, Mich, April 3.-(Special.)- While Truman N. Moon was today ab- sent in Delavan, Wis. negotiating with men who claimed that they had kid naped his little son, Harold, age 10, and were holding him for ransom of $5000 the body of the child was found float ing in Thread pond by Bert Robson. A pair of skates fastened to the feet and the hands encased in mittens, testified as to the manner of his death.
 The child disappeared February 27 His parents from the first believed that he had been Kidnapped, and since that time Mr. Moon has been going about the country tracing different alleged clues. Circulars were sent broadcast over the United States offering a re- ward of $500 for the boy.
 It appears that some crooks decided to take advantage of the situation and wrote MT. Moon letter saying that they held the child and would deliver him for $5000. Moon was to call for a letter addressed to L. N. Newell, which would instruct him where to leave the ransom money. The methods employed by the crooks were similar to those used in the delivery of the $1o,o0o ran som by MT. Whitla of sharon. Pa.
 Remarkable Case.
 The case is remarkable, as showing the unreliability of circumstantial evil dence. When the child did not return home the first thought was that he had broken through the ice of Thread pond or Flint river. There was, however, no indication of the ice being broken about the edges of the pond and then came reports that spread and were finally taken as facts. that stange man had been seen leading the boy away.
 Following is the wording of a note written by Mr. Moon and deposited in the cannon on City park last night;
 T know not who you are, but if you still have the boy write the name of his brothers and sisters, the name of the book received on his last birthday and who sleeps with him at home, I will produce the $500O and no questions will be asked"
 Mir Moon and the detective fingered in the vicinity of the cannon for some time and finally observed a man approach the cannon, seize the letter and quickly dis appear
 CleWs Run Down.
 Several days later it was reported from Pontiac, Mich, that a lad of Harold'S description had been seen with stranger in a freight car. This clew was followed without results. It was followed by port that he had been seen in Ontario. This also was investigated by Flint off- vers without success. Then rewards were offered A meeting of business men was held and a total of $500 was subscribed, to be paid for information that would lead to the boys return. Detective agen- cies, police departments and newspapers all over the country were supplied with pictures and descriptions of the missing lad.
 At one time the police at Toledo report ed a promising clew. A boy was seen in the freight yards with rough appearing man. He resembled the description of the Moon boy. On investigation, however, this clew like the others, failed to de- velop anything.
 Appeal From Boys. Last week the Sons of Daniel Boone, an organization of boys, with branches in all parts of the country, of which Harold was a member, sent out from its New York headquarters an appeal to all of it's membership to join in the search for tho missing boy.
 With the failure of all the efforts to discover any trace of Harold, systematic dragging of the Flint river was begun For twenty-five miles it's bottom was searched without result. A gang of twen- ty men were worked for several days drag ging under the supervision of MT. Moon.
 Part of the water was drained off Thread pond yesterday. and today Rob- son found the body of the child. It was about 100 feet from the shore-and the legs were caught fast in the weeds