Rensselaer Republican, Volume 15, Number 42, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 28 June 1883 — "FLY BELL.” [ARTICLE]

"FLY BELL.”

The Long-Lost Son Dodge Played in a Pennsylvania . Town. The Putative Father Bound, Gagged and Robbed of a Large Sum. (Glen City (Pa.) Telegram to Chicago Times.] Elmer Snyder is a wealthy farmer who pvea a abort distance outside of this village He is a widower, Uvea 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 auspicious, but the farmer believed In himLat 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. Tney suddenly became int mate, and until Thursday night he was c. nstanty in her society. He introduced her to a few Soung ladies as Mrs. Dickerson, of Philadelelphia, and said she wa< the wife of a friend of his. On Friday morning the servants in the Snyder household were surprised by the non-appearance of Mr. Snyder. Bui sting open the door, they saw the old man lying at full length upon the floor, bound ana gagged. The ropes that bound him were wrapped around nis arms and with a double twist, while the gag was tightly wedged in his mouth. Cutting the cords and lifting him to his feet, they administer el restoratives. When he had nuttic ently recovered, the old man said: “That young man was not my son. 1 have been cruelly deceived and roboed,’’ printing 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 yonng 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, etc., but I never suspected anything and shortlv 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 1 recognized the faee 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 nay 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." Thia morning a detective from Chicago arrived, looking for two indlvld uals whose description tallies exactly with that of the farmers bogus son and the flashy women who put 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 associatertin 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 crimes. The loss to the farmer is nearly •8.500. The booty consisted of #4,900 in greenbacks and the rest in Government bond#*. The numbers of the bonds have been given to the authorities, and a heaw reward will be offered for the arrest of the thieves. A watch was kept at all the railroad stations, but it is thought that the pair are already out of the country.