Mystery of the Dunbar's Child

The eleventh, month of August
In the year of nineteen-twelve
The kidnapping of the Dunbar's child
That was a mystery too sad to tell
It was down on Lake Swayze
On a warm sunny day
Everyone was enjoying happiness
At a picnic they gave that day

You know, the two children, they wandered off
Bobby and his comrade alone
When the returning of the other child
He just said, "Oh, Bobby's gone"
But where did little Bobby go?
Everyone tried to know
And they all start searchin' Opelousas
And along Lake Swayze shore

You know, they searched and searched for miles along
Almost the whole night long
No one couldn't imagine
Where poor Bobby Dunbar's gone
So they dragged the lake and they dynamite
Almost the whole next day
Until someone had suspicion
Some kidnap taken Bobby away

A reward was bein' offered
To see if Bobby could be found
Everyone joined in the search
You know, in and out their town
No one heard of anything, you know
About that missin' child
The father and mother of the Dunbar child
It drove them almost wild

For months and months, they look and listened
To hear something of their boy
And at last they heard about Walters' child
That he called his pride and joy
They were summoned to Hub, Mississippi
You know, that little country town
And everyone shouted out with joy
So glad Bobby had been found

You know, then he was taken in custody
Given to the Dunbars, brave and bold
But the Dunbar crowd tried a rotten tale to tell
"That's my child that Walters stole"
Poor Walters was taken to prison
And he was placed in Opelousas jail
And he was charged of kidnapping
Without the benefit of bail

He says, "I am an innocent man
And believe a wretch like me
If I could see the Governor face to face
I am sure he would set me free
Julie Anderson is proved his mother
And I pray she's not dead
You can picture their resemblance
From his feet up to his head"

Oh, the Jurymen found him guilty
And the clerk wrote it down
The judge passed the sentence
Penitentiary, he was bound
He was brought for safe-keeping
To dear old New Orleans
There he appealed for a new trial
Through the Court of Supreme

He says, "I know God wouldn't have me punished
For a crime that I didn't do
I hope and trust each and everyone
Some day'll find out that I am true"
Prosperity for our New Orleans
And also Justice Lamb
Oh, I am glad to tell you all
That Walters is now a free man