The Washington times., 1925-07-06
CLAIMING
FRANE-UP
CONTINUED from First Page

Continued from First Page)
they were to appear in court and
the fact that none of the Bowman5
offered reward Tor the finding of
Bowman was proof that their dis
appearance was framed"
Although he described the dis
appearance OF the men as absurd,
Sheriff Selman declared today ne
is convinced that Bowman received
rough treatment of some nature.
talked with MIN at the hos
pital, said the sheriff, land he
showed signs of having gone han
cry and thirsty and of having been
through some narrowing exper-
fences, although no bruises .1r
signs of blows were visible on his
body"
Tipped Off MOOnshiners.
The sheriff said the case was
complicated and would require sew
eral days to get at the bottom
OF it.
The victims apparently had been
moved about from night to, night
to avoid the possee that has been
searching the mountain Businesses
since their disappearance. Prior
to the finding of the two men,
Sheriff Selman had almost given
up hope, entertaining the belief
that Nthey had been slain by noun
tain moonshiners and their bodies
hidden IN some mountain raVine.
Bowman, prior to his disappear
ance, had been threatened by
mountaineers because he had tip
ped federal agents as to the 1oca-
ton Of moonshine stills, according
to officers.
Tell Weird Tale.
Mason and Bowman, after being
revived, told weird tale to their
rescuers. They said they had been
attacked by five hooded men while
in Doctor Mason's automobile,
dragged into the woods and chained
to a trees where they remained all
that night and the following day
They were unclaimed and dragged
still farther into the woods toward
Lookout mountain the following
night and again chained to a tree.
For several nights they were
moved, first being blindfolded. ~
is thought they were mover each
night to a section which had been
searched during the day by a posse
to prevent their discovery. The
previously been searched by a
posse.
Thomas was accompanied by his
nine-year-old grandson when he
found the men. He said he was
face covered with a heavy growth
Of I'D hi tSap I,
a ghost.
Drank GreediIy.
He said he offered Bowman wa.
ter, which Bowman gulped greedily.
ST wrenched it from him after he
had taken about three swallows, as
was afraid it might kill him to
drink too much at once" Thomas
said. Then / noticed Doctor Ma
son, who was lying in a stupor. l
forced the bottle to his lips and
presently he began to show signs
OF life.
Leaving my grandson with the
men went to the nearest teIe-
phone and called Joe Willis, con-
stable, and asked him to send ambu-
lances.
"The two men were semi-delirious
from their sufferings. The sun
had beat down on them unmerci-
fully and gnats. horse-flies and
mosquitoes tortured them inces-
sanity.
Wrists Badly Cut.
Doctor Mason's wrists were badly
cut by the handouts to which his
chains were fastened. He could
ha reIV move so tightly was he
chained. Bowman, however, was
able to raise himself on his hands
and knees"
Doctor Mason and Bowman were
Iured to their capture by a tele-
phone message purporting to be
an appeal for help from Sam
Lewis, mountaineer. Doctor
Mason's car was found the next
morning on a lonely mountain
road. Both mems hats were in
the car Bowman's crushed by the
blow OF a heavy cudgel. Blood was
smeared over the Aeat.