One story that has always puzzled me is the disappearance of Bobby Dunbar. On August 23rd in 1912, four year old Bobby Dunbar went missing while on a fishing trip with his family in St. Landry Parish, Louisiana. For 8 months, the story of the young child's disappearance spread like wildfire across many newspapers in the United States.
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After searching for three-quarters of a year, authorities located a man named William Cantwell Walters in Mississippi. Walters was accompanied by a boy who fit Bobby's description. When asked, Walters told police the boy was Charles Bruce Anderson, the son of a woman who worked for his family. Walters gave authorities her name, Julie Anderson and that she granted him custody. Julie Anderson confirmed this to be true. Regardless of her word, Walters was arrested and the police sent for the Dunbars to travel to Mississippi and identify the child.
There are different newspaper accounts of what happened when "Bobby" and the Dunbars met. One said that the boy yelled "Mother!" when he saw Lessie Dunbar. Another said that the boy cried and Lessie was unsure that it was Bobby. A third account stated that the family wasn't sure who the boy was. A forth one involved the Dunbars' youngest child, Alonzo stating that "Bobby" recognized him immediately, called his name and kissed him. However, there is another story saying that he didn't regconize Alonzo at all.
The day after the encounter with the apparent Bobby, Lessie bathed the child. She was very positive that this kid was her son because of his scars and moles. He returned with the Dunbars to their home in Opelousas, Louisiana.
Not too long after, Julie Anderson arrived to support Walters' plea that the boy was her son. Julie was an unmarried woman and worked as a field hand for Walters' family. She said that she gave Walters permission to take Bruce on a two day trip to visit one of Walters' family members. She then said that she hadn't consented for Walters to take Bruce for more than a few days. According to newspaper accounts, Julie was presented with five different boys, including the kid who was claimed by the Dunbars. When he was presented, he apparently gave no indication that he recognized Julie. She asked if he was the boy retrieved but she wasn't given an answer. Julie was unsure if he was her son Bruce.
The next day, Julie Anderson visited the boy again. She was allowed to undress him and upon seeing all his scars and marks or lack-of, she was certain that this was Bruce. Unfortunately, word had already spread that she failed to recognize "Bruce" first time around. This and the fact that newspapers questioned her character because she had three kids (two deceased) out of wedlock, led to Julie's claims being dismissed.
She returned home to North Carolina for a bit because she couldn't afford to stay longer. However, she traveled back to Louisiana for Walters' kidnapping trial to vouch for him and push for the court to determine that the boy was hers. While at the trial, she met some of the residents of Poplarville, Mississippi. Many of the residents also proclaimed that Walters was innocent. Walters and the boy spent a lot of time of their trip in Poplarville. The community got to know the two well and claimed that they were together prior to Bobby disappearing. Despite all of this, the court determined the boy was Bobby. Walters was convicted and the boy lived the rest of his life as Bobby Dunbar.
After the trial was over, the people of Poplarville welcomed Julie and she began a new life. She eventually got married and have 7 children. Julie became a devout Christian and spent her time helping out the church and served as a nurse and midwife. She children claimed she was a very happy person but she often spoke about how she lost Bruce. The family always regarded Bruce as having been kidnapped by the Dunbars.
In 2008, Julie's son Hollis recounted the story for the radio program This American Life that back in 1944, Bobby/Bruce visited him at work and they spoke. Jules, Hollis' sister said she had a similar experience. The Dunbars also had an experience like that. Bobby's son Gerald said that while returning home from a trip, they passed through Poplarville when Bobby apparently said "Those are the people they came to pick me up from." The Anderson's then had a brief moment with Bobby.
Walters served two years in prison. His family stated that he constantly maintained his innocence until his death in 1945.
After Bobby died, his granddaughter Margaret began her own investigation. All her research led her to believe that Bobby wasn't her grandfather. In 2004, Bob Dunbar Jr. took a DNA test and found out that he was not related to his cousin, Alonzo Dunbar's son.
What happened to Bobby Dunbar?! This entire story is beyond crazy. Both mothers were at first uncertain that the boy belonged to them and then both were very certain that Bobby/Bruce was their son. Also, how did the child actually react to seeing both Julie Anderson and the Dunbars? If he didn't react to either, then that leads to the question WHO IS THIS CHILD? If it wasn't Bruce or Bobby, then both kids were still missing and another child was napped. I don't think we will ever know how things truly went. If possible, a new DNA test between Bobby's child or grandchild and the Andersons needs to be conducted. If there is a blood relation, then there is the answer. The child would've been Bruce but if there is no connection between them too.. then what happened to these three children?
Great Mystery, very interesting.
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