Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1891-12-03
KIDNAppERS GET $1,000 RANSOM.
They Steal Millionaire's Baby and
Return IL For a Big Sum.


Return IL For Big Sum.
KANSAS Cry, Mo-, Nov 27.-The 2-years-
old son of Millionaire David I. Beals, that
was kidnapped last evening by Lizzie
Smith, o waiting maid in the household.
while the family were at dinner, was re-
turned at 9.a5 tonight on payment of
$4,000 ransom.
This afternoon Mr.. Beals caused the fol-
lowing notice TO be published:
5000 RANSOM.
10 Whnn il Mdp Concera.
Return my child, receive 5000 and no aues-
tions asked. ID. n. BEAis
The offer of ransom was made after a long
and serious discussion. The police officers
argued that the criminal should be brought
to justice and that the offer of ransom
without attempting to secure the kidnap-
pers was, from q moral standpoint, com
pounding a felony. But Mr.. Beals, taking
counsel of the Charley Ross case, refused
to take the risk.
First let me find my boy and then you
can lind his kidnappers,n was his answer.
A reward, Mr.. Beals argued would a.
tract too many detectives, who might run
the kidnappers SO close to earth that,
rather than suffer the penalty for their
crime, they would put the child out of the
way and make good their escupe. Mr.
Beals, therefore, advertised his willingness
to pay ransom. He said the offer was
made in good faith, and that whatever
knowledge he might obtain OF the identity
of the abductors, should they ACCEPT his
offer, would be honorably guarded.
The police and Pinkerton HEADQUARTERS
were flooded with ''clues,n but none that
led to anything.
AT O'clock this afternoon Mr.. Beals re-
eeived note by a messenger boy, who said
that an unknown man had handed it TO
him OH the street. The description of the
man as given by the boy tallies very closely
with that OF the man who is known to
together with another man and Lizzie
smith. he is supposed to be man named
King.
The note Informed Mr.. Beals that he de-
sired tomeet him in front of the post-office
as soon us possible, Mr. Beals was directed
to wear plain gold ring on his left hand,
prominently displayed, as means of
identification; The child, said the writer
was securely hidden and all the detectives
IN the country could not find him. He
knew. where the child was hidden and
would return him to the father for stated
sum.
Mr.. Beals went at once to the postoflice
and until all the departments We're closed
Tor the night he paced up and down the
corridors increasingly. AS the hours wore
on, with no response to the secret signal,
the poor father began to weep and his sobs
brought tears to the eyes Of ill who heard
them, Finally, at a late hour, friends led
him to his desolate home.
Shortly after the evening papers an
peared with the offer Of $4,000 ransom. a
man, whose description no one has OBJ
tanned, appeared at the Beas. residence
and called for Mr.. Beals.
Mr.. Beals appeared and the man said
that If 81, 1000 i'll cash was paid him at .. Is
tonight, and the police were instructed to
keep out of the way, he would return the
child. lie finally consented to take So 600.
Mr.. Beals willingly made the promises
asked, and sent down to his bank for the
money in small bills.
AT the hour appointed the man with the
boy, safe and sound, appeared at the resi-
dence and delivered up the child. He re-
ceiyed the $4,000, counted it deliberately.
bowed politely and disappeared,
The scene i'll the next room when the
child appeared in the midst Of the family
was indescribable. The joy of all was uti.
The police had struck a hot trail. and
at about the time the child was returned
the woman Lizzie Smith was arrested in a
vacant house in lonely locality. She
was taken to the police station and then
70 the Beals house, where she was fully
identified.
Mr., Beals believes the child was never
out OF the vicinity of the house.