STOCKBROKER STEALS A BOY.

Mataura Ensign, 16 August 1906, Page 4

STOCKBROKER STEALS A BOY.

o FINANCIAL STRAITS DRIVE HOI TO KIDNAPPING. A great sensation was caused a few weeks ago when Freddie Jluth, a boy oi seven, whose parents uro well-to-do residents of Philadelphia, was mysteriously kidnapped. The boy was decoyed from school by a note to the principal stating- that his mother was suddenly seized with illness and desired to see her son.

A messenger-boy delivered the note, having received it from a strange man at a street corner. The man met 11 ut'h and the the disappeared with him. Since then the police of Philadelphia New York, and) other cities have been making vigorous search, over 400 men being on the case. A little, later the father received a letter demanding £IOOO for the return of the child, threatening to lull the boy unless the ransom was forthcom-

The detectives obtained clues to the kidnapper, and found him with the boy in a vacant house in West Philadelphia. The kidnapper attempted to escape, but was shot at and surrendered. Ho was discovered to bo John Kean, a former stockbroker. It is believed that desperate financial circumstances drove, him to commit the crime.