The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1891-11-28
THE BEALs ABDUCTION CASE

KANSAS CITY, Nov. 21-All the cirCum-
stances surrounding the abduction of
Banker David T. Beals' 2-year-old son, d.
T. Beals. Jr, indicate that the kidnapping
was the result of a well-planned con
spiracy, and that the victim is being held
for ransom. The child was abducted by a
servant, who was known to the family as
Lizzie Smith. She WAS employed under
circumstances which, in the light of later
events, appear suspicious. She called at
the Beals mansion one day about three
weeks ago and called for Mrs Beals,
stating that she was looking for employ
ment 1t so happened that Mrs. Beals
needed a housemai6, and, although the
girl could give no references, she was en-
gagged. Late one night, a week after
wards, Mrs. Beals heard suspicious noises
in the kitchen and she went to investigate.
As she was passing through the hall
through the buffers pantry to the kitchen
some one brushed past and ran out of the
back door. Further investigation showed
ali the doors and windows in the rear of
the house had been opened. Mrs. Beals'
wskefulness prevented the carrying out of
the plot at that time.
An investigation of Lizzie Smiths ca
reer here shows that she and two men
rented "A cottage at No. 1927 Lydia avenue
month ago and paid a months rent in
advance. Very little furniture was placed
In the house aud the neighbors say that
they could learn nothing concerning the
trio. Immediately after Lizzie Smiths
employment in the Beals HOUSEHOLD the fur
niture was removed and the house vacated
and the two men disappeared. Since that
time two men, whose descriptions tally
with theirs exactly, have been noticed
about the Beals place. On one occasion,
while Mr.. aud Mrs. Beals were both away
from home, they called at the house and
inquired for Mrs. Beals. 1t so happened
that Lizzie Smith WAS up stairs and that
the cook answered the bell When she
told them that Mrs. Beals was not at home
they said they would wait. The servant
told them that Mrs Beals would not be in
for some time, and they left. Neither the
police nor the detectives have as yet found
any trace of the child or his abductors.
Mr. Beals This afternoon issued the fol-
lowing notice:
900 RANSOM
ITO whom it may concern;
Return my child and receive five
thousand dollars. No questions asked.
David T. Bsals"
This ransom money WAS offered after n
long and serious discussion of the cues
ton as to whether a ransom or a reward
should be offered. The officers of the law
brought TO justice aud that the offering of
a ransom without attempting to secure
the kidnapers was, from q moral stand
point, compromising felony. To these
arguments Mr.. Beals replied: First let
me find my boy; then you can find the
kidnapers." A reward. he argued, would
attract too many detectives, who might
run the kidnSpers 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 escape Mr..
Beals, therefore, aovertises bis willing
ness TO pay ransom, in the hope that il
will indnCe the kidnapers to return the
child directly to him. He states that the
Cfier Is made in good faith, aud that what
ever knowledge he might obtain of the
identity OF the ahductoTS, should they ac-
oept his offer, will be honorably guarded.
Every man, woman and child in the city
is Il detective today, and they are all keep
Ing open their eyes for Junior Beals, as
he was known. As n result, the police aud
Pinkerton headquarters have been flooded
with clewS. Many o. them have been run
down, but they have led to very inmate
rial Developments. Ii has been discovered,
however, that after leaving the house
with the child, the abductress. Lizzie
Smith, boarded northeast electric car at
Wabash avenue, and rode to the down
town terminus Of the road st the iutersec-
ton OF Walnut and Fifth streets, where
she slighted, with the child still In her
possession. There all trace of her and OF
the child WAS lost
But few additional facts have been
discovered concerning the character of
Lizzie Smith. From interviews with the
other servants il has been learned that the
girl was but lily educated From her CON
Versation they concluded that she evil
IDENTIFY had lived fast lite. and had lived
ia many OF the large cities OF the west. She
told the cook cOuUdsutially that she had
run away from her BONE IN linois At the
age OF Is, because her mother had opposed
her marriage with the man Of her choice
From Illinois, she said, She went To Ne
prasks; thence to Denver, and thence TO
many other large cities east OF there, and
nuallY here. That tie woman was going
under a false name seems pretty well e.
iabhsbed, for the other servants SAY that
her linen was al marked with the Initials /
Il X"
No such popular excitement was ever |
aroused IN Kansas City as now agiiates 1
the public miOd. The story of the crime /
i on every lip, and in every heart is there /
sympathy tor the stricken parents, while 1
every one would turn detective aud mAke 4
- personal -etrch for tie lest child II il /
would avail! anything Indeed. il MAS pro-
posec by several influential citizens that a
mass nee ing lie called and that every one
" M 4 IA 81, {