Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-04-03
DROWNED, NOT STOLEN
Body of Harold Moon Found in
Skating Pond.
|END OF A LONG SEARCH
Boy Was Supposed to Have Been
kidnapped.
CIRCULARS SENT BROADCAST
Attempt to Obtain Money From the
Father by Offering to Re-
turn the Boy.
CIRCULARS SENT BROADCAST


ing been kidnapped when he disappeared
from his home here February q. ten
year-old Harold Moon fell through the Ice
OF Thread pond and was drowned. The
long search for the boy. which has been
prosecuted in all parts of the country.
ended today when his body was found
floating on the surface of the pond by
Bert Robson, who had been searching for
1t there for days. A pair of skates fas-
tened to the little feet bore mute testi-
mony to the manner Of the lads death.
The small hands were still covered with
the mittens which the boy wore when he
went through the ice.
Search for the Boy.
Suspicious developed soon after the little
boys disappearance that he had been kid
naped AS the search about the pond,
where he had gone to skate. failed to
reveal any traces of him, the suspicion
grew Reports came from several differ
description had been seen in company
with a man. From Pontiac Mich, came
a report that a boy of his appearance had
been seen in a freight car with a rough
looking man, of whom he seemed TO be in
fear. Rewards aggregating $1,3O were
offered for the boys return. Circulars
were sent broadcast all over the United
States.
Sister Hears of Discovery.
1t was Harold's seventeen-year- sis
ter, Marina. who first learned today that
the missing boy had not been stolen. but
was drowned. She had gone to the
neighborhood store and heard the first re-
port there of the finding of his body. The
girl ran to her home and broke the news
to her mother, who for five weeks has
been enduring the strain of not knowing
whether her son was dead or alive.
Heartbreaking as the news was. the
mother expressed feeling of relief tG
have the strain of the past weeks re-
diately to Mr.. Moon notifying him of the
finding of the body.
Thread pond is a small body of water
about SO by 40 rods in area, and is fec
by a small stream known as Thread
creek. 1t is a mile from Flint. The
pond Is used by ice men for their ic'
harvest
Part of the water was drawn out o.
the pond yesterday, and today Robson
found the little body. 1t was about I'm
caught fast in the weeds at the bottom
One arm aI4l shoulder protruded from
the water 1T was Immediately identi-
fed and taken to morgue.
Attempt to Swindle Father.
I.umann Moon. father of Harold, left
here Thursday for Delavan. Wis. near
Chicago, in response to a letter which
he had received from an anonymous cor
respondent. who promised to deliver ur
his boy upon the payment of a ransom OF
Mr.. Moon in Chicago and accompany
him to Delavan to make an investigation
before the father paid out any money.
The letter stated that the writer had
Harold Moon in his possession and that
IL the father would come to Delavan at a
certain time on certain train and de-
posit $500 at the mouth Of cannon on
the open square in the town the boy would
be restored to him inside of half hour
1t was the fathers intention to write a
note and leave 1t in the cannon stating
that if the kidnapers would have Harold
write letter in his own handwriting he
would Immediately place the money in
the cannon.
On Track Of the Plotters.
CHICAGO. April 3-Lumann Moon,
father Of Harold, arrived here Thursday
evening and went at once to the detective
Office, where he told of the demand for
ransom for his son and showed the
anonymous letter which he had received
The detectives planned a ruse to capture
the alleged plotter An agent was sent
to Delavan in advance and Moon left
Friday afternoon, to arrive at $40 p. m. in
accordance with the directions in the
letter Today news of the finding of
Harold Moons body in a pond near his
home was received by the detective
agency and it at once began an effort to
communicate with their operative and Mr..
Moon at Delavan.
Developments show that the scheme was
arranged by a person who had read the
details of the kidnapping of Willie Whitla
of Sharon. Pa, and who sought merely to
extort ''easy money" from a frantic
father.
On Letter Writer'S Track.
DELAVAN. Wis, Apru 3.-It is said
here that Detective Carlsworth. who ar
rived from Chicago last night with T. N.
Moon, father of Harold Moon. has located
the man who wrote the letter to Mr..
Moon offering to give up the lost boy for
$500.
No arrest has yet been made, but the
capture of the letter writer is expected
before night.
1t was just as Mr.. Moon was about TO
make his visit today to the cannon in
City Park as directed in the letter to
him. that news of the finding of the body
reached the distracted father.