256 THE PASSENGER PIGEON IN PENNSYLVANIA 



from his home. The kind hearted neighbors searched 

 for days through the wilds which then constituted 

 the greater part of Potter county. 



Finally they gave up hope, being convinced that 

 the child had wandered away from home and became 

 a victim of wild animals. Bears and panthers and 

 even wolves were then not uncommon within a short 

 distance of the Schall home. 



The only persons who did not give up hope 

 were the father and mother of the missing: lad, the 

 latter maintaining up until her death at Bradford 

 a few years ago, that her son would be heard from 

 some time. 



The circumstances of Nesbit's confession accord- 

 ing to Daniels, are substantially this : 



He was approached early in 1878 by a New 

 York man, who had been hunting wild pigeons in 

 the vicinity of the Schall home in June of that year. 

 This man, who was very wealthy, had been attracted 

 by the unusual resemblance of the Schall child to 

 his own son, who had died a short time before. He 

 came to Schall with an offer to adopt the son, give 

 him a good education and make a good place for 

 him in the world. The parent-love was too great 

 and the oft'er was refused. 



The sportsman approached Nesbit, he declared, 

 at Elkland. a point GO miles from there, offering him 

 $500 if he would spirit the lad away. Nesbit was 

 tempted as he owed a neighbor $500 and was unable 

 to pay it, and finally consented to commit the terrible 



