New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-06-02
A QUESTION OF RANsoMs.
Is IT BETTER TO TAKE $1,000. no QUESTIONS
ASKED" OR s.. 900 AND HAVE TO TELL LIE?

Is IT BETTER TO TAKE $1,000. no QUESTIONS
ASKED OR $1,000 AND HAVE TO TELL A LIE?
To the Editor Of The Tribune
Sir; A good many people have noticed In the last
week that the alleged kidnapping Of Marion Clark
is In some respects remarkable 1t is remark
able for instance that this particular child should
be selected by band OF local brigands in search Of
ransom since the parents do not appear to be rich
or able TO afford ransom The only large ransorns
offered are on the part Of two newspapers. 1t is
scarcely correct to describe both Of these
SONS One OF them Is the offer Of 5000 for the
restoration Of the child land no questions asked"
The other is reward OF 1900 for information as
TO the child or its kidnappers. This paper reserves
the right TO ask questions and expresses its de-
termination TO DO
Both these promised rewards are. Of course.
trivial by comparison with those which were Of
fered In the Charlie Ross case years ago. There
were two rewards offered for the recovery OF
Charlie Ross-one OF $4,000 and OF $4,000. the
latter being offered by P. T. Barnum. OF course.
running a sensational newspaper does not bring In
quite the income that running good circus does.
though It is enough like It in some other respects.
and so these disinterested papers may be excused
for not multiplying their rewards by ten. And.
since the badness Of the tools is the glory OF the
workman II will be all the more OF an achievement
II either OF the papers is able TO catch the child or
the thief Of the child with so small a bait
These two journals Of the second city OF the
world devoting large portions OF their space to
praises and defences Of their respective styles or
offering rewards. The sends out its reporters.
and they talk with everybody who will talk and
they can find nobody who is not overpowered by
the nobility and delicacy OF the offer Of 5000 and
no questions asked" The object Is the relief or the
suffering mother. Everything else is subsidiary.
The other paper sends out reporters. and they talk
with everybody who wants TO get his name in the
paper and not man, woman or child is found
who is not shocked at the immoral notion OF letting
any unknown person pass unquestioned Give a
reward and ask questions!' every thoughtful
father mother. son and daughter exclaims. why,
If that system were TO be adopted every baby In
the world would be stolen forthwith. No. no; you
/ are doing the noble work. Make every woman
with high cheek bones tell you the story Of her life
before you let her pass you in the street So pic
ure Of the wicked nurse is printed. drawn from a
description of her, and any woman who has the
misfortune TO look like that picture will DO well 10
stay in until the two rewards safe in the
bank.
anv way as 10 which OF the two rewards Is the
question dear reader. 10 yourself directly and
liver up the child take 1000 and go about your
kidnapping business, deliver up the child. take
81 900 and be detained and questioned and have 10
tell a lie, thing which every honest kidnapper
must hate in order to give seemingly satisfactory
A LOOKER-ON IN VIENNA
New-york May 90, 1899