The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-08-03
READS LIKE FICTION
STORY OF THE KIDNAPPING OF LAW
YER COTTLE, OF BUFFALO.
Capture of the Young Bandit Who
Engineered the Scheme, and
Complete Confession.

BUFFALO, n. Y, Aug. 2.-George Allen,
one of the men who kidnapped lawyer o. o.
Cottle, for ransom. some months ago, was
arrested at the Mansion House to-day. He
retained Hugh Pentecost the one-time
preacher, for his attorney, and Pentec0st
tells a remarkable story. The crime that
was committed by Allen and one Emery was
one of the most daring ever perpetrated
here. Lawyer Cottle was inveigled into TAX
ing buggy ride to look at some property.
and was ushered into a vacant house. was
overpowered and thrust into cell, hand
cuffed and chained by his ankles to post.
While gagged and under threats Of death
he was compelled to write a note TO his
wife asking for 5000 Immediately. When
this note was delivered Cottle's son, sus-
pecting that his father was in durance. at
tempted by personal interviews with En-
cry to temporize, but with no avail. 1t Is
generally believed that the money was paid.
The elder Cottle was then liberated from
his dungeon. while his captors made their
escape into Canada 1t was afterwards
learned that Emerson was an alias as
stunned by Claud Strong. of this city. who
had, under the name of Emery. become a
fugitive from Cincinnati justice and be-
come a resident Of Toronto, Canada.
He had employed Cottle as attorney to
obtain a pardon to permit his return to
the States and claimed to have paid him
something like $4,000 for getting the par
don. Cottle, failing in this endeavor, how
ever. Strong, alias Emery, had sought res
titution and finally decided upon kidnap-
ing and ransom to effect It,
Allen admits his identity now. although
he says his real name is John Mcdonald,
and his place of nativity is Louisville. KY.
He also confesses to the kidnapping. Hugh
Pentecost was interviewed this afternoon.
of 5000, and that Carlton Strong. a promi-
nent architect and a brother OF Emery,
had also swindled Emery. The New York
dence in proof of all this, and showed the
reporter two receipts, signed by y. y. Cot
tie. one for 5000 and the other for II, 600.
Both receipts also contained the statement
that the money was to be returned TO John
c. Emery in case Emery was not pardoned
or WIS saepee Soars Of this amount if
was stipulated, was to be kept by Cottle TO
be paid to William c. Oates. Representa-
bama who, ii was claimed by Cottle, was
to aid in securing Emery's pardon. Both
Cottle and Carlton Strong said Pentecost
had told Emery they had paid large sums
efforts to secure his pardon.
These men. Pentecost said, he had WIS.,
cent. Being unable to get satisfaction
from his lawyers or his brother through
entreaty, Emery conceived the idea OF
forcing the matter to public attention In
the unique manner afterwards carried out.
Mere writing to the papers. added Mr..
Pentecost, would have been useless. as
none would have believed him in opposi-
ton to two men considered so respectable
in every way 0. o. Cottle and Carlton
Strong.
Allen has been connected with Emery
more or less intimately for many years.
Both he and his counsel say that he came
forcing Cottle and Carlton Strong to either
hand over the money or to take the step
which they have taken in causing his ar