Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1922-08-28
HE HUNTED 81 YEARS
FOR KIDNAPPED SON
Father In Search Has Restored
Nine Other Boys to Their
Parents.

Joplin. Mo, Aug. 26.--A search for a |
kidnapped boy, n search that extended |
over half a century. reached across two
continents and found nine other kid
mapped boys and restored them to their
parents. but failed OF It's own end. is
drawing to n close.
In this city there is a white haired
teacher OF voice. now eighty years old
who has spent nearly all the earnings
OF fifty-one years OF his life in a
futile search for n son who was stolen
from him when not quite FIVE years
OF age and who today is flfty-six II
he still is alive.
Hope that he might ind this son
again has been the beacon star that
has lighted the long pathway down
which Prof. w. II. Leib--the singer
has come. singing always bravely, II
with a wistful note, because his songs
we're his means OF finding tho money
with which to keep detectives forever
running down forlorn clues.
When the lad was stolen, one June
afternoon in 1871. Professor Leib was
a tenor Of promise and just had
signed contract to sing for year
In Christ Episcopal Church. Chicago
He filed that contract and many
others. and all the money that he and
his wife could savo from the sums
these brought went into the search
for the missing boy. AZ the years
took away from the sweetness and
clearness Of the professors voice he
turned TO the instruction Of others and
made a profitable livelihood. the sur
plus from which also went into the
disheartening search.
The years rolled on and took their
toll. and Mrs. Leib died, and their
other children married and moved
away. but always the now ageing pro-
fessor kept his hope
Freddy. the second son Of Mr.. and
Mrs. Leib. n precocious child singer
was kidnapped when tho family was
living in Quincy. Ills. One day. when
Leib was In Chicago, Freddie came
running downstairs with bright song
on his lips, his eyes shining in hap
/, piness. That was the last picture his
mother carried of him in her heart
through the lonely years that followed,
for he kissed her. ran out Of the house.
and that is the last that ever has been
| y
except kidnapping were eliminated by
the police in their search. Freddy was
seen in buggy with a man not far
from Quincy. but beyond that clue the
hunt availed nothing.
Mere tinies when Leib was running
down clue to children that might be
his baby boy grown-up. he came across
youngsters who gave him Information
by which he was able to seek out their
parents and restore them to theii
homes. Perhaps the most unusua
case of this kind occurred in 1881, ter
: years after Freddie vanished.
A child Of about fifteen was aban.
doned by gypsies near Chester, Pa
and his general description was suct
= that 1t fitted Freddie as he might bs
at that age. Leib took a train and hur
ried TO Chester. but a brief examina
ton revealed the lad did not posses.
> the birthmarks by which the pro
: fessor was sure he instantly coulC
recognize his son, despite the decade
= that had passed since the boy wa:
kidnapped.
Leib questioned the boy, who de
scribed the one thing he remembers,
OF his childhood-a house that stoo,
on little hill, at the bottom OF which
y was a small stream with woodel
bridge over 1t. and not far away
% great river and great city.
1t 30 happened that about the tim
that Freddie was stolen a young so
'e OF about the same age was lost b
, Henry Lachmueller. wealthy mer
'e chant of st. Louis. 1t was presume
ii the boy was stolen for ransom, bu
Vi when no demand was made for none
'e the mystery OF young Lachmueller
disappearance grew. The father sper
fortune seeking the boy, to no avail
IN As both boys disappeared at IN
is same time, Leib and Lachmueller ha
Oh conferred. thinking perhaps the di.
~ appearances might be linked Moth
ing tended TO confirm this suppositiol
n but because he had paid a visit
CT Lachmuellef In his suburban hon
ne near ST. Louis. Leib remembered tn:
ne the Lachmueller residence stood on
little hill, at the bottom OF which WE
er small stream with wooden brids
IN over 1t and not far away st. Lou
and the Mississippi River. On tn,
oil slender clue he reported TO Laci
IN mueller. who hurried to Chester an
a found the missing lad was his son.