The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1909-04-08
FINDING or BOYS
CORPSE PUTS AN
END TO EXTORTION
Lad Had Been Missing Since
February-Grafters Sent
a Letter.

Flint, Mich, April 6.-Instead of hav-
Ing been kidnapped when he disappeared
from his HON here on February q,
10-year-old Harold Moon fell through
the Ice OF Thread pond and was
drowned.
The long search for the boy, which
had 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 IL for days. A pair of
skates fastened to the little feet bore
U testimony to the OF the
lads death. The small hands were still
covered with the mittens which the boy
wore when he went through the ice.
Rewards aggregating s. 1900 were Of
Tered for the boys return. Circulars
wer'a sent broadcast all over the United
states. Tuman N. Moon, the boys
father, has prosecuted the search for
his son far and wide.
Misunderstanding as the news was, the
mother expressed a feeling of relief to
have the strain OF weeks removed.
Offered for Ransom.
Detroit, Mich, April GA Flint spe-
clal to the News quotes Mrs. T. N.
Moon as saying her husband went to
Chicago in answer to a letter stating
that his son was being held for q ran
som Of $4,000. She Toes not know
where he can be found In Chicago.
Moon his wife says, vas to call for a
letter In Chicago addressed to l.. N.
Newell. which would instruct him
where to leave the ransom money.
Try to Work Father.
Chicago, April 6.-Tuman n. Moon,
father of the Flint boy, is at Delavan,
Wis, in company with a detective, to
which place he was lured by a letter
demanding $1,000 ransom for his lost
son.
Moon received a letter at his home In
Flint a few days g from Delavan,
In which the writer stated that he had
the lost boy in his possession, and that
the father could recover him by going
to Delavan and depositing $500 in the
mouth of a annon in the city park.
Subsequent developments show that the
scheme was arranged by a person who
had read the details Of the kidnap-
Ing of Willie Whitla, OF Sharon. Pa,
that he thought merely to extrot easy
money" from a frantic father.
The father Immediately went to Chi
scago and put the case in the hands Of
a detective agency. A plan was devised
to capture the alleged plotter. Accord
tngly a detective was sent to Delavan
yesterday afternoon to arrive in ac-
cordance with the directions Of the let
Ter. IoQay the news or n nnding OF
Harold Moons body was received by
the detective agency and 1t has since
been trying to get into communication
with the detective and Mr.. Moon at
Delavan.
) Here's tho Letter.
In the letter mailed at Delavan to the
boys father, the writer stated:
II have our los boy in my pos
session. If o want him back come
to Delavan, Wis, arriving here on the
afternoon Of April 3. on a train reach
Ing here at $40 in the afternoon. Go
to the city park at 1880 in the even
Ing and place $500 in an envelope In
the mouth of the big cannon When
you have done this return to the hotel
and the boy will report to you there.
This letter is dictated by your own
son and under no circumstances reveal
Its contents to any n If you ever wish
to see your child alive"