Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1900-12-21
Omaha, Neb., [

Omaha, Neb., Dec. IS, 1890.
We have kidnapped your child and de-
mand $500 twenty-five thousand dol
lars for his safe return. II you give us
the money the child will be returned
safe as when you last saw him. but if
you refuse we will put acid in his eyes
and blind him. then we will Immediately
kidnap another millionaire's child that we
have spotted and demand $l0o0U and we
Will get it. for he will see the condition
of your child and realize the fact that We
mean business and will not be monkeyed
with or captured.
Get the money all in gold. five, ten and
twenty-dollar pieces; put II in white
night of Dec. 10. At 7 o'clock +. NJ, and
drive south from your house to center
street; turn west on Center and arrive
back to RuSerS park and follow the
paved road towards Fremont
When YOU come to lantern that is
lighted by the side of the road. place the
money by the lantern and Immediately
turn your horse around and go home:
You will know our lantern for ii will
have two ribbons, black and white, tied
on the handle You must place a red Ian
tern on your buggy where it can be plain
~ seen we will know you mile away
This letter and every part Of IL must be
returned with the money and any attempt
at capture will be the saddest thing you
ever done. ii you remember some y
years ago Charley Ross was kidnapped
in New York City and $2nOo0 ransom
mn the money, but Burns. the great de
tective. with others, nersuaded the old
man not to give up the money, assuring
him that the thieves would be captured.
Ross died of a broken heart. sorry that
he allowed the detectives to dictate to
him
This letter must not be seen by anyone
but YOU. If the police or some stranger
know its contents they might attempt TO
CAPTURE US, although against your wish,
or some one might use a lantern and rep
l.sfxr G.t..f1 p
the money. and this would be as fatal to
Won as if YOU refuse to give up the
money. So you see the danger if you let
this letter be seen.
there is only one way out. Give up the
coin. Money we want and money we VIII
get. If you don't give up me next ma, man
ness and you can lead your boy around
blind the rest of your days and all you
will have is the-coprer sympathy. 20
the right thing by US and we VIII 40 me
same by YOU. If you refuse you will soon
see the saddest sight you ever seen.
Wednesday, Dec. 10. This night or never
FOLLOW these instructions ana no harm
will befall you or yours.
A consultation was held and the matter
gone over in detail. Plans were discussed
for capturing the bandits when they
should make their appearance at the rem
devious th~t had been designated, but
o,a after another these plans We're
.dronped. as being impracticable. Finally,
imnelled by the strain under which the
entire household was laborng, ME. Cud-
abv decided to comply with the terms ana
offered ransom for his son.
A trusted messenger, sworn to secrecy,
was sent for the money which was
brought to the Cudahy residence
After dinner Mr.. Cudahy had one OF ms
horses barnessed to a light buggy ana
tatipp the money in it with him, left
,,ora for the designated place at which
the money was to be left.
In the buggy he carried red lantern
r1o drove five miles west OF town on the
s,,,,,an avenue road until he came to a
,,,h;te lantern hanging on short suck
,as;da the road, Alightins from ms buggy
NJ Cudahy deposited the sack containing
49,, ,,onev near the stick bearing the
,s,.- ,;.bt Then without seeing any
80, he returned to his nome.
,,a.ntime the abductors had seen the
a, Hgbt coming uD the road ana as SOON
Tho buggy disappeared they TOOK away
money and prepared to keep falth
nth the father. The boy was puiiuieu
Ill, cab and set down close py MS
-. house about O'Clock this morn
where he had been he was unable
CONTINUED on page 3D.