KYJacksonPurchase-L Archives

From: Bill Utterback <>
Subject: [KYJP] The Strange Case of the Kidnapping of John William Lents - Graves Co.
Date: Mon, 28 Jul 2003 18:33:51 -0500

My friends -

Every now and then, as I look at old newspaper film and clippings, I will
find a story or article which is so unusual, or contains enough interesting
ephemera, that I pass it on to you in a post as something of a "featured
item". Such is the case today, with a story that appeared in the Mayfield
Messenger of 6 March 1914. This is the strange set of circumstances and
ensuing information developed which was connected with the kidnapping of a
boy named John William Lents. Parts of this are reminiscent of the old
song, "I'm my own grandpa".

Tomorrow, we will return to McCracken County.

-B
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The Strange Case of the Kidnapping of John William Lents
Mayfield Messenger -6 March 1914

"A telephone message from Hardin early Friday morning to Chief C.H.McNutt
instructing him to arrest A.W.Dudley, charging him with kidnapping John
William Lents, aged 15 years, had the desired effect, for it was but a
short while until Policeman Sam Yarbrough had the man and boy in custody.
Dudley was taken in charge by Officer Yarbrough at the home of J.W.Travis,
where he had gone to visit acquaintances. Both were taken to City Hall to
await instructions from John T. Lents, father of the wandering boy. John
William Lents, the boy, is rather a bright faced and intelligent youth. He
said that Dudley did not kidnap him and was in no way responsible for his
sudden desire to leave home. He stated to a Messenger reporter that his
father had been cruel and spoke harshly to him, and at times had even told
him to leave home. The boy was willing to return home if he could only be
released. Dudley has only been in that section of the county but a few
weeks and little was known of him by the Lents lad, but it was later
learned that Dudley had made his home in Mayfield for some time until
recently. The boy said that he was en route to Memphis where he had two
sisters. The couple left Marshall County late Thursday and walked to
Mayfield. The arrest of this boy reveals an interesting and pathetic story
of a man deserting his home and fireside and eloping with the wife of his
son. The boy said that he was born in Memphis a year or so following the
escapade of John T. Lents, who, he says, married the wife of his son, Lloyd
Lents, so the story goes. The boy's father is also his grandfather,
according to this. John Lents and this boy, John William Lents, returned to
Kentucky about two years ago, the return having created a sensation at the
time. John Lents, who was about 50 years old with a loverly house and wife,
deserted his native hearth in a mysterious manner and only meager
particulars were ever heard from him until he unexpectedly walked into the
home of his wife about two years ago. He was gone fourteen years. His wife,
who was formerly his daughter-in-law, said the lad died several years ago
in Memphis, and Lents, having repented of his sinful folly, came back to
his former wife. Hundreds gathered to witness the reunion of the aged
couple and it was a touching scene. When told by the Messenger reporter
that he would realize some day that home was the best place on earth for a
boy, he said, 'Yes, I realize it and am now willing to return home and do
and live the best I can'."

[No information on what charge, if any, was pressed
against Dudley]
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• [KYJP] The Strange Case of the Kidnapping of John William Lents - Graves Co. by Bill Utterback <>