The Neihart herald. [volume] (Neihart, Mont.) 1890-1901, 1898-09-10

nue, Chicago, was entlced away from
his fathers doorstep. In both cases
the kidnapper was a oma In both
cases there was an apparent absence
Of motive. Thus Chicago in the short
term of ten years has furnished two
cases of the unusual crime of kidnap-
ping, Il of which was famed all over
the land for its sensational features,
the other of which bids fair to equal
he first in public interest. These two
cases, similar in their beginnings at
least, possess so far another element
Of similarity, usually a feature Of kid
mapping cases-the police have been
absolutely bafled, although the abduc-
ton took place in the broad light of
day and within the sound of the voices
In both cases of one of the parents of
the missing child. Three cases pre-
ceded the Lapiner abduction within
the memory Of men now n yet at the
middle age of life. In all but one there
was but one motive or none. In all
but one the efforts of trained detectives
failed of any tangible result. In one
the child was never discovered and is
still missing, although a man of 30
years If still alive. In one the object
was fruitful and the money paid. In
the third no money was paid, the child
was returned, but by accident. In the
last the child is still missing. Fortu-
nately for the peace of mind of par
ents, the crime of abduction is ex-
tremely rare. One thousand murders,
100000 b~urglaries and thefts Of prop
erty take place to the theft Of one
child. Veteran police officers are more
disturbed over one case of kidnapping
than over hundreds of murder mystic
ries. Their chances OF solving the lat
ter are many times better than OF
learning the truth concerning the for
mer. But n motive is ascribed by
them for the crime, the love of money,
and they realize the extreme difficulty
Of catching criminals who would be
guilty of such a crime. No crime
known to humanity is so distressing as
that of kidnapping. In it's essence it is
the refinement of cruelty.
Nearly all the cases recorded in po-
lice annals of this or any other city
have been committed in the broad light
of day. The little victims have been
snatched up, seemingly from under
their parents eyes. They have been
enticed away from streets crowded
with pedestrians and vehicles and with
their playmates around them. They
have been taken about in a big city,
kept in hiding successfully within a
few blocks Of their homes and no eff
forts of the police authorities or pri-
vate detective agencies have awaited
to discover them. The abductions have
been planned coolly and skillfully,
with all the elements of danger and
exposure carefully weighed out and
plans laid to avoid them. They have
been eminently successful. 1t requires
q high grade of cunning, GOODNESS and
daring to abduct a child and make away
with it. All the noted cases of the past
thirty years have been handled by such
people. In all cases the only ascrib-
able motive has been money, ransom
wrung from the parents. But one case
resulted in the payment of the sur
demanded. In one case only, so far az
the records go, the abductors offered tC
return the victim, and carried out tht
contract. In others fear of punishment
has seemingly operated as a check. Ii
one case this fear may have resulted
in the murder of the victim. Nearly
thirty years have passed since Char
lie Ross was carried away Nobody
} has even seen him since or received
the slightest intimation concerning hi
fate. Baby" Beale was returned Il
his father on the payment Of $4,000,
Annie Redmond was found in an asy
lum; Gerald Lapiner is still to b.
found.
Probably the most noted k%idnappin:
case the country has ever experience