KIDNAPPED AMERICAN BOY.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2095, 3 June 1907, Page 4

KIDNAPPED AMERICAN BOY.

Noithor Prtsidont Roosevelt nor Mr. Rockefeller,'; and' not even young Harry Thaw,, is occupying the chief share of tho national attention just now, but little Horace Marvin, a four-year-old boy of Dover, Delaware, who was kidnapped two weeks ago (states a New York telegram or March 20th). He was a golden-hair-ed little follow, with big brown eyes, .tho only son of a highly respected country physician, whose wife died in giving birth to little Horaco. His father is an old man, and lived only for the youngster, who was the pride of his life. The couple were inseparable fortnight ago, when Horace, who lived in tho country, suddenly disappeared. Ho had been playing near tho house, and there a no doubt that lie . was kidnapped by ruffians intent upon ransom. But the case made such a stir that the kidnappers, who at first wrote demanding a big sum, grow nervous, and now nothing is heard or known of the whereabouts of the boy, or even whether he is alive. It is possibly because kidnapping has become extraordinarily prevalent in America Jljately that the heart of tho nation Mas gone out to the poor old father, who Is only too willing to give up all his money to find his darling child, and the newspapers from day to day are asking every true American to become a volunteer searcher. Even the Delaware Legislative Assembly lias taken up the case, and the Senate has passed a resolution begging President Roosevelt to make the disappearance of Horace, a national affair to the extent of asking every postmaster in the land to publish the child’s photograph and printed description. The Legislature has already devoted £I,OOO to the searching, and private individuals are also spending money freely with the same object. It is believed that everything belonging or relating to the little fellow has been photographed and published, including his last pair of little boots, with the toes kicked out, his Sunday clothes, his favorite wooden horse, his box of dead butterflies, and so forth, for, iis the Dejajw&re Senate’s resolution gravely declares, /‘The crime is such as makes the most helpless child in the land, for the moment, the most prominent citizen.” This, at least, is the view of kind-hearted Americans, who are sparing neither pains nor money to find the child, so that the country has become a veritable nation of searchers on Horace’s behalf. There was touching scone at Dover just before the commencement of a banquet given to the Delaware State Legislature. Tlie banquet was held lit tho Hotel Richardson, and Dr. Marvin, who had been consulting with detectives, happened to be in the corridor looking very worn and distressed, wandering about rather aimlessly. A Pinker,ton detective told Senator Dupont, who was about to preside ovor the banquet, who the old man was, and immediately the law-maker went directly to Dr. Marvin, threw one arm over his shoulder, and said a few earnest words of sympathy to him. Senator Dupont’s example was followed by every man of the Senate legislative body, many of them farmers like himself. A group was formed about him, and every man insisted on taking tlio hand of the heartbroken old father, who could only murmur his apreciation as his eyes filled with tears.