Democratic Sentinel, Volume 7, Number 23, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 6 July 1883 — A “LONG-LOST” SON. [ARTICLE]

A “LONG-LOST” SON.

The Cruel Deception Practiced on a Wealthy Farmer of Glen City, Pa. His Confidence Abused by a Young Man Claiming To Be His Wayward Child. (Glen City fPa.) Telegram to Chicago Times.] Elmer Snyder is a wealthy fanner who jives a short distance outside of thia village. He is a widower, lives in a big house, and stands high in the community. Mrs Snyder died five years ago from grief because her son ran away. Two weeks ago a young man appeared in town and claimed to be the long-lost son. The neighbors circulated stories of a fast life in Chicago, and were suspicious, but the fanner believed in himL?st Wednesday a handsome, elegantlydressed woman, unaccompanied, drove up to the village inn, and secured accommodations for a few days, saying she was from Philadelphia and desired a quiet room. While walking on the street she met the lately-returned farmer’s son. They suddenly became intimate, and until Thursday night he was constancy in her society. Helntroduced her to a few young ladies as Mrs. Dickerson, of Philadeldelphia, and said she was the wife of a friend of fits. On Friday morning the servants in the Snyder household were surprised by the non-appearance of Mr. Snyder. Bursting open the door, they saw the old man lying at full length upon the floor, bound and gagged. The rones that bound him were wrapped around nis arms and legs with a double twist, while the gag was tightly wedged in his mouth. Cutting the cords and lifting him to his feet, they administered restoratives. When he had sufficiently recovered, the old man said: “That young man was not my son. I have been cruelly deceived and roboed,” pointing to a safe which stood in the corner of the room. The servants saw that .the safe had been opened and the contents scattered about the floor. “Last night, ” continued the farmer,” the young man and I remained up till about 1 o’clock talking about the Western States. At last he started to talk about my real estate, money, bonds, eta, but I never suspected anything and shortly after I went to bed. How long I slept I don’t know, but I was roughly awakened by a gag being forced into my mouth, and before I could help myself I was bound and gagged. As soon as the light was turned up I recognized the face of the young man whom I thought my son and the stylish woman who had stopped at the tavern. The young man laughed quietly, and, taking up my trousers, took the key out of the. pocket and deliberately proceeded to open the safe. The pair then examined the contents. The money they put in a valise the women carried, while the papers were tossed about as you see them. After they had taken everything, the young man came up to me and laughingly said; ‘Good-by, papa. I’ll pay your respects to your son when I get back to Chicago. He wants to hear from you.’ They then went out, locking the door after them.” This morning a detective from Chicago arrived, looking for two individuals whose description tallies exactly with that of the farmer’s bogus son and «tne flashy women who nut up at that tavern. Going to see Mr. Snyder, the detective saw that the young man was not his son, but an old Chicago thief and confidence man, and known among his associates in crime as “Fly Bill ” and who went under the aliases of John Peters, Harry Rutledge, etc. The woman, he said, was a noted courtesan from Chicago, who is wanted there for a number of Crimea The loss to the farmer is nearly >8,500. The booty consisted of >4,900 in greenbacks and the rest in Government bonds. The numbers of the bonds have been given to the authorities, and a heavy reward Will be offered for the arrest of the thievea A watch was kept at all the railroad stations, but it is thought that the pair are already out of the country.