San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1923-08-14
AGED MAN, ARMED WITH AXE,
HELD YOUTHS PRISONER IN
HUT FOR OVER HALF A DAY
Ragged Old Man. Persuaded Pair to Accompany
Him and Then Locked Them Up in Shack.
Boys Became Frightened and Climb Through
Transom and Make Escape-Tell Strange
Tale of Actions of Their Supposed
Demented Abductor.

a strange tale of being held pris-
oner by an old man who followed their
every move with an axe. was related
by Louis Pcrsat, o, 1911 Avenue ID,
and Fred Wernert, Is, 1918 Avenue
D, Tuesday morning.
According TO the sorry told by, the
boys, an old min whose name they did
not learn, passed BY Louis Persat's
home late Friday evening Seeing the
two boys in the yard playing he
stopped his wagon and called them to
him.
He told the boys he needed some
one to help him make flower rots, and
that he would pay them 81 day il
they would come with him the follow
ing morning. In addition to offering
them 81 n day he promised them-roller
skates and numerous other things,
with lots of watermelons and other
good things to eat.
After the boys told him they would
20 the next morning the old man left
with the promise that he would re-
turn at :30Saturday morning.
- Despite repeated warning from Mrs.
Louis Persat. mother of the younger
boy. who told them not TO go with
the ragged old man." the two boys
left with him Saturday morning.
Locked Them In.
The old fellow took q roundabout
road and finally arrived in the viciity
of West End lake. He drove into
yard in the back of which was an old
shack. He then ordered the boys to
alight and take off their shirts.
As soon as both had removed their
shirts he ordered them into the small
hut and closed and boltcd the door
on the outside. He was gone for only
a short time, the boys say, when he
returned. He opened the door and or
dered the younger boy to 80 after some
oats for the horse.
Immediately after sending Louis for
oats the old man picked up an axe.
closely resembling those used in the
fire departments, anG walked behind
the Wernert boy. Althou"h he kept
the axe raised above his head in read
mess to strike. the old men never
moved it from his shoulder. The boys
believe it was his intention to kill
them one at a time and that that was
his reason for sending one of them
after oats.
When Louis returned with the oats
the old man told him to give the
horse a little water md then 10 come.
hack to the house. Upon his return
to the house. Louis and Fred were
again imprisoned in the old shack with
orders to sleep for few hours. Il
"You boys be good and go to sleep
for an hour or so" the two boys quot /,
ed the old man as saying.
II will go after some grub and when
come back we will have good feast
and then we will 60 to the grave
yard" 4
With that he left the house. 4
"When he said graveyard said
Louis. in relating his story Tuesday
morning. az knew it was time to leave.
Fred and / figured right then that he
was going to kill us so we decided tc
make our escape. 49,, i
Erred. being larger than ], lifted
me up TO the transom! When L got up
I helped pull him up and together we
iumped out. We didn't have any
money. so we started running and ran
all the way home.
IT was close to 3 o'clock Saturday
afternoon when the boys made their
escape. having been kept prisoners IN
the hut for more than half day.
Kept Story . Seeert.
The boys failed TO notify their par.
ents of the strange actions Of the old
man and it was not until his return
Monday afternoon that IT 81 any
thing about it. When the old fellow
saw the two boys playing Monday ar
ternoon. he Immediately climbed out
of his wagon and walked over to them.
asking them how they got out OF the
house.
He returned with the promise that