The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-04-05
Lawrence Converse, Kansas Boy,
Captured on e. s. Land.
Youth Kidnapped by Mexicans
Once Lived in Hutchinson.
TREACHERY WAS USED
Promised Imprisonment Would
lie in an American Jail.
They We're Tied to Horses and
Taken to Mexico.

Hutchinson, Kan, April 5.-Law.
renee Converse, one of the two Ameri.
can boys who were captured a few
weeks ago by Mexican troops, and it is
claimed, were kidnapped by the Mexi.
cans on American soil, formerly lived
in Hutchinson.
He is nephew of Mr. and Mrs A
M. Talbot, who own the home at sos
Fifth avenue east. and who are tenn
| porarlly staying with the formers
brother, Joe Talbot, at 118 Sixth east
Z. ii. Converse. the father of Law
renee Converse, is prominent attor-
ney of Los Angeles, and a wealthy
man. He is a brother of Mrs. A. M.
Talbot. The latter has only recently
returned to Hutchinson from Los An
geles
Converse sympathized with the rev.
olutionists and had. it is understood,
enlisted in the insurgent army as an
officer.
At the time of his capture, however.
by Mexican troops, he and another
American were on the American side
of the line and the Mexicans, it is as
serted, rode onto American soil, seized
and kidnapped the two young men and
carried them over into Old Mexico and
incarcerated them in the prison at
Juarez, where they now are.
MY brother is sparing neither eff
hui money TO secure In6 Tree
dom of his son. said Mrs. A. NJ. Tai
bolt last evening. I'VE feared for a
time that they would be shot, for the
MexicanS were executing the prisoners,
but the state department. has been in
terested in their case and we hope now
that they will be given their freedom
through the interference of our gov
eminent
It is only the fact that a clear case
is being proven that the boys were
kidnapped from American soil that may
save them. however. The parents of
Lawrence Converse are now at Ell PasO,
just across the river from Juarez, di-
recting the investigation and getting
evidence.
The boys were arrested on the after
noon of February 20 on the road be-
tween Tornnilla, Texas. and Guaralupe,
Mexico. They were arrested near a cot
tonwood pole house of Manual Perea,
on the north side of the river which
forms the international boundary.
At any rate the troops which were
after the two American boys did not
cross the river but sent four rurales
across. They were seized and when
they maintained that they were on
American soil, the rurales agreed to
take them to the Jail in Tornilla, Tex.
With this understanding the two young
Americans surrendered.
Then, when they saw that they were
being taken across the river, to Mexi-
can SOIL, they resisted out were over
powered, and bound with ropes. They
were then taken across the river and
delivered to the Mexican troops by their
and the troops took them to
the prison in Juarez.
Ropes were placed around their
necks and they were dragged by the
troopers at the heels of the horses
and otherwise treated with ignominy.
At the Juarez prison their blankets
were taken from them and they were
forced to sleep on the damp floor of
the 'incommunicado''s dungeon, being
allowed to see no one and denied all
with friends.
This condition continued for " hours. !
Exposure and mistreatment gave young
Converse a severe cold and he was
with pneumonia. He was
refused medical aid however, and it |
was not until his parents reached |
Juarez and succeeded in getting the |
American state department to inter |
fere that the young men were allowed |
to have decent treatment.
Since then they have been supplied |
with blankets and are allowed food sent |
them by Mr.. and Mrs. Converse.