Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1900-12-28
A BOLD GAME PLAYED
BY THE KlDNAPERS OF MILLION
AiRE CUDAHY'S SON.


Edward Cudahy acknowledges that
he paid va, COO in gold for the return
of his 15-year-old son, Edward, who
had been kidnapped. 1t seems that
three hours after Mr.. Cudahy re-
ceived the letter which was thrown on
his lawn, he received another letter
through the mails, as follows;
"OMAHA, Neb., December 10.
"Mr. Cudahy: We have kidnapped
your child, and demand $4,000
twenty-five thousand dollars) for his
safe return. If you give us the
money, the child will be returned as
safe as when you last saw him, but if
you refuse We will put acid in his eyes
and blind him, then we viii. immed-
lately kidnap another millionaire's
child that we have spotted and de-
mand 100000, 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 it
in a white sack, get in your buggy
alone on the night of December 10 at
Z o'clock p. NJ. and drive south from
your house to Center street, turn
west on Center and drive back to
Russer's 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 near the lantern and i'm
mediatcly turn your buggy around
and return home.
"You will know our lantern, for it
will have two ribbons, black and
white, tied on the handle. You must
place red lantern on your buggy,
where it can be plainly seen so we will
know you a mile away.
"This letter and every part OF it
must be returned with the money, and
any attempt at capture will be the
saddest thing you ever done.
eff you remember, some twenty
years ago, Charley Ross was kidnapped
in New York city and $4,000 ransom
asked. Old man Ross was willing to
give up the money, but Burns. the
great detective, with others, persuaded
the old man not to give up the money,
assuring him that the thieves would
be captured.
Gross died Of broken heart, sorry
that he allowed the detectives to die
tate to him.
"This letter must not be seen by
anyone but you. If the police or
some stranger knew its contents they
might attempt 10 capture US, although
against your wish, and some one
might take lantern and represent
us, thus the wrong party securing the
money, and this would be as fateful
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 one way out.
Give up the coin. Money we want
and money we will get. If you don't
give up, the next man will, for he will
see that we mean business, and you
lead your boy around blind the rest of
your life, and all you will have is the
-copper's sympathy. Do the right
thing by us and we will do the same
by you, if you refuse you will soon see
the saddest sight you ever seen.
Wednesday, December 10, this night
or never.
"Follow these instructions and no
harm will befall you or yours"
Acting on the suggestions OF the
letter, Mr.. Cudahy drove out alone to
the country and left the money.
Mr.. Cudahy announced that he
would pay $4,000 reward for the
apprehension of the abductors of his
son, 5000 for one and $15,O 900 for two
of them.
Young Cudahy says that he was
seized Tuesday evening, across the
street from his own home by two
men, who declared that he was Eddie
McGee, an escaped reform school boy.
They put him in a buggy and drove
to a deserted house in South Omaha
He was taken from the buggy and
placed in q room and chained to the
floor.
He remained there all night and the
next day. His hands were tied and
the chains on his feet prevented him
from getting a good view of his sur
rou ndings, even after the blindfold
had been removed.
He gathered from the talk of the
men that there were six in the gang
One of these men came from Mexico
recently and from Denver very lately
and was an expert in the kidnapping
bus siness. After the mysterious house
was reached one man guarded him
during greater portion OF the day
The second man was in the room nj