The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1911-02-24
SAYS GYPSIES
KIDNAPPED HIM
Crus Charges Man Posing as
Father and Others With In
ficting Torture.
DECLARES HE TOOK $2250
TO ESCAPE T0RMENT0RS
Says He Was Stolen at Age of
10 From Fathers Ranch in
South America.
Special To The Trihnne.

Special to The Tribune.
OGDEN. Feb 2S-Kidnaped when he
was 10 years old from his fathers ranch
in Droonzide. South America taken from
one corner OF the earth 10 the other by
the gypsy band which stole him. and
compelled to live Tire scmibarbaric life of
his captors who treated him inhumanly.
is the story OF his life as detailed TO po-
Ice officers by George Crus this morning.
Crus was picked up at the Union depot
by Detective George Wardlaw yesterday
morning on a description asking for his
arrest for the theft OF $3.50 from John
w, Crus. his father. at Laramie. Wyo.
He was found al the Union depot with
portion Of the money and = ticket for
San Francisco Cal. in his possession.
Both ears are frozen black from exposure
to the elements since he left Laramie,
riding the brakeboams Of a freight car.
Confesses Theft.
Although he at first denied that he had
confession. in which he related story
comparing favoraby with the strangest
fiction ever written.
When Crus was 10 years OF age John
Crus. who claims to he his father. with
band of gyps'"s, stole him from his
fathers ranch in South America. Al
though of tender years Crus. whose boy
hood name was George Mark. says he
has q vivid recollection of his abduction.
He also remembers his fathers name and
the address of the family. Time and
time again he has written letters TO his
father. lie says but on account or the
nomadic life led by his captors the camp
would he broken UP and the caravan
moved 60 another town before he could
gel "a reply.
Determined TO escape from his captor
at the first opportunity. Crus nurturcd
this desire until i, became his religion.
When his foster father came Into possess
sion of $3.50 from the sale Of some stock
at Laramie. the young man saw Lis
chance. While the other occupants Of
the tent were asleep. he stole the roll OF
money and slipped quietly out into the
darkness on his way to South America
aud his long lost parents, Fearing that
he would he detected ii he bought
ticket out of Laramie. he boarded a
freight train and rode into Ogden, whore
he arrived with both cars so badly frozen
that It is feared he Will lose them and
possibly his hearing. lie had purchased
ticket for San Francisco Il few minutes
before Detective Wardlaw recognized
him from the. description
Hides $1,000 in Laramie.
But 1920 OF the stolen money has been
recovered, but Crus has told the officers
where a $1,000 hill Is hidden in Laramie.
able is plausible. He exhibits long scars
on his body 10 show that he was beaten
and tortured by his captors. and says
that his foster father on one occasion
beat him severely as TO break his arm.
Mrs John Crus and her son. Robert
Crus. reached Ogden today, hoping to
gel possession Of the money. The woman
says that the prisoner is her son. but. he
denies this. There appears to be but lit
Tie resemblance. although the life the
prisoner has led since he was 10 years
Old has given him most Of the gypsy
characteristics. He speaks Italian,
French Spanish and the Mexican Ian
guascs huently. but his English Is brok-
en- His knowledge OF these languages
was acquired in his nomadic travels
around the country.
Sheriff l.. Hughes of Laramie telc-
graphcd the police today that he viii ar
rive In ogden with rcqusitlon papers to-
morrow.