New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-12-21
CUDAHY PAYS THE RANSOM
KIDNAPPERs GET $4,000 ASKED FOR
HIS BOY-LETTER THREATEN
ING To BLIND HIM

| Edward Cudahy. jr who was kidnapped on Tues
day evening, after being held thirty-six hours
for ransom of S25, 600 in gold, which the young
mans father unhesitatingly paid. has been re-
| turned 10 his family, and tonight the boy and
| his parents are receiving congratulations from
| relatives and friends throughout the country.
Mr. and Mrs. Cudahy feel that they have cause
| for relief, not only over the return of their
youthful SON. but also because one or possibly
| more of their daughters were not included in
the conspiracy which has caused them much
anxiety and grief. a statement of the con-
| spirators, overheard by the lad while he was in
their power, indicates that they had been at
tempting for month to secure possession of
Yesterday about noon, and several hours after
a note had been left on the lawn of the Cudahy
residence another missive delivered TO Mr..
Cudahy at his residence. 1t came through the
mail, and contained a proposition to return the
boy, safe and unharmed. provided the sum of
$4,000 was paid that night. The letter was as
follows:
Omaha, Neb, December 10. 1900.
Mr.. Cudahy: We have kidnapped your child
and demand $4,000 twenty-five thousand dol
larS) for his safe return. If you give US the
money the child will be returned safe as when
you last saw him, but if you refuse we will put
Immediately kidnap another millionaire's child
that we have spotted and demand $lOOOOO;
and we will get it, for he viii see the condition
or 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
sack; get IN your buggy alone on the night OF
December 10 at o'clock p. m. and drive south
from your house Centre-st-, turn west in
Centre and drive back TO Ruser's Park and fol-
low the paved road toward Fremont.
When you come TO a lantern that is lighted by
the side of the road place the money by the Ian
tern and Immediately turn your horse around
and return home.
You will know our lantern. for it will have
0rih Oh i'd 0a
You must place red lantern on your buggy
where it can be plainly seen, so we will know
you mile away. This letter and every part Of
1t must be returned with the money, ana any
attempt a. capture viii be the saddest thing
you ever done. II you remember, some twenty
years ago. Charley Ross was kidnapped in
New-York City and $4,000 ransom asked. Old
Ross willing to give up the money. but
Byrnes, the great detective. with others, per-
suaded 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 al
lowed the detectives TO dictate to him.
This letter must not be seen by any one but
you. II the police or some stranger knew It's
contents they might attempt to capture u.s. al
though against your wish, or some one might
use a lantern and represent US. thus the wrong
party securing the money, ard this would be as
fatal to YOU as if you refused TO give up the
money So you see the danger if you let this
letter be seen.
Mr. Cudahy, you are up against it, and there
is only way out. Give up the coin Money
we want, and money will get. If you dom
give up the next man will, for he will see that
We mean business, and you can lead your boy
around blind the rest of your days and all you
will have is the - - copper sympathy. DO
the right thing by anu will CO the same
by you. If you refuse you will soon see the
sa@bs ~ This S9u ng6 er never Foow these
instructions and harm will befall you or
yours.
WHAT CUDAHY FAMILY DECIDED ON.
A consultation was held at Mr.. Cudahy's
house and the matter gone over in detail Plans
were discussed for capturing the bandits when
they should make their appearance at the rem
devious that had been designated. But one
after another these plans were dropped as being
impracticable
Finally impelled by the strain under which
the entire household was laboring. Mr.. Cudahy
decided to comply with the terms offered and
ransom his trusted messenger, sworn
to secrecy. was sent for the money, which was
brought to the Cudahy residence. After dinner
Mr. Cudahy had one of his horses harnessed to
a light buggy, and. taking the money in it with
him, started alone for the place at which the
money was to be left. In the buggy he carried
a red lantern He drove five miles west of town
in the Sherman-ave road until he to
white lantern hanging short stick beside
the road.
Alighting from his buggy, Mr.. Cudahy depos-
tied the sack containing the money near the
stick bearing the white light. Then, without
seeing any one he returned to his home. Mean
time the abductors had seen the red light COM
ing up the road, and soon as the buggy dis
appeared they took away the money and pre-
pared to keep faith with the father The boy
was bundled into cab and set down close by
his fathers house about o'clock this morning.
Where he had been he was unable to say posi-
lively but as nearly he could estimate he
had been taken five miles south OF South
Omaha. The cunning of the gang and their
thorough knowledge of the geography Of the city
were shown in the plans they laid. Close by
the place where Mr. Cudahy directed to
leave the ransom for his son the river ap-
proac ches the road and it is supposed the
were on the watch for the father and saw his
red light from boat. AS soon as he had driven
away and they had satisfied themselves that no
person was lurking near they probably clam
bered up the bank, obtained the sack of gold,
returned to the boat again, and escaped without
leaving any telltale footprints. There is abSo
lutely no clew to the identity of the men.
BOYS STORY OF HIS EXPERIENCES.
When young Cudahy arose this morning he
was questioned concerning the circumstances Of
his disappearance.
He said that he was in front of General
GOWNS house. just across the street from his
own house. on his way back from the Rustin
residence. on Tuesday evening when two men
approached him. One of them stepped up TO
him and sad: 1--WE are Sherifs from Sarpy
County and arrest you Eddie MCGEE, who
escaped from the Reform School" The lad re-
piled that he was not the mythical Eddie MCGEE,
but his captors said that he would have to be
identified. They placed him in a buggy ana
drove to Thirty -sixth-st.. and thence south TO
Leavenworth-st AS they approached Leaven-
worth-st a motor car passed them. The lad
recognized the conductor. and said to his cap
tors: There is a man who knows me; ne can
identify me-"
But the captors Immediately blindfoded him
and whipped up the horse Ihe laa thlnks ~ theS