Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 39, Number 58, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 26 March 1907 — DOVER’S KIDNAPING CASE. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

DOVER’S KIDNAPING CASE.

The Four-Year-Old Sour of Di - . Marrin Probably Stolen. No crime is more despicable than is kidnaping. It is an offense which preys upon the hearts as well as upon the

purses of its vic? tims and those cons victed of practicing it should be punished most severely. Even coldbloodeirmurder is tame compared to the suffering attending the stealing of a child and holding it for ransom. Unfortunately, like the doings of the Black Hand, the despicable work of childstealers is increasing. . :: The latest crime of kidnaping to attract attention is that perpetrated at Dover, Del. A fortnight ago Horace N. Marvin, the 4-year-old son

of Dr. 11. N. Marvin of Dover, disappeared. For a time it was supposed he had wandered away and become lost, but tile conviction was soon forced upon the distracted family that he had been kidnaped. Rewards were offered and detectives undertook the search for the boy. A ship captain was arrested on suspicion, but'be was speedily discharged. Meanwhile the State increased the fervor of the search by adding to the personal offers of reward until the sum now amounts to $27,000 for the recovery of the boy and the capture of his abductors. Philadelphia detectives believed the child had been carried to that city and they made a careful search of the negro quarters. This belief was based on the statements of Walter Winner that he saw such a child on Market street in charge of two negro women. At that time he had not read the kidnaping story, but he was struck by the beauty of the child and wondered that he should be in such company. Then the State authorities received a demand for pay for returning the boy. This demand came through a New York detective agency to whom it was mailed from the Canadian border near Detroit. The name, signed to the letter is that of a big negro with a bad reputation in New York. While the letter incite a fake so much attention was paid to it that detectives have Been sent tJ the neighborhood from which it came. The disappearance of little Horace was remarkable. Dr. Marvin with his family had recently moved upon a farm which he has purchased from Charles Goodell. On the day of the disappearance Mr. Goodell was drawing away effects not included in the sale. The Marvin children and their cousins were playing hide-and-seek and as Goodell was driving away a number of them ran to him and asked if Horace was in the wagon. Mr. Goodell had seen the boy sitting atop of a baystack as he drove by. He told the children so and they ran back. But they could not find the boy and finally gave the alarm. That was the last seen of the child.

HORACE MARVIN.