People's voice., 1900-12-27
The Cudahy kidnapping.

The Omaha newspaper reporters
have shown the Omana police and an
army OF PinkertUn detectives from
Chicago few things in detective
work, by discovering the mysterious
house 10 which young Edward Cudah,
was held for $4,000 ransom. 1t is
not an unusual thing for reporters tu
trace down crime aud fasten tie
glllt upon the guilty person, after
the police and detectives have failed.
ln nosins into things in search OF
news, reporters gain valuable in-
sight into human character, and learn
to reason so well by deduction that
their theories are valuable in intri-
cate matters that battle the ordinary
person. The story of how the Omaha
reporters located the house used by
the abductors is interesting. There
is 40 question as to the identity Of
the house, as absolute proof was ob-
tained and further cOrroborated by
young Edward Cudahy. The house is
an isolated structure situated Cn a
promOntory commanding a full view
OF the surrounding country for miles
about. 1t is q two-stOry building and
has the rickety stairway and other
features described by the boy. On the
second floor was discovered a well
bucket containing water from which
the millionaire's son had quenched his
thirst. About the room we're found
hundreds Of cigarette stubs and burnt
matches and a small quantity Of
sugar and coffee. Eddie Cudany, his
father and several policemen entered
the house, and Eddie pointed out the
exact spot 10 the north room where
he lay from the time he was taken
TO the house Tuesday evening until
removed Wednesday night. He also
said he had drunk from the Oaken
bucket which stood in one Of the ad-
Joining rooms. He also Indicated the
broken stair step which he had prev
lously referred to, as he slipped in
going up stairs to his Imprisonment.
Eddie Cudahy said he had reClined on
the floor from the time he
entered the house until removed. He
said he was only about an hour, per-
haps, going from the point where he
was abducted 10 the house and about
the same time 10 returning to the
point where be was released and told
to 90 home. The sensational kidnap-
ing OF young Cudahy is somewhat
strangely coincident with the finding
Of letter in a Milwaukee street car a
few days ago. The letter was ad-
dressed to William Stewart, Chicago,
ILL.,, and told Of a plan to rob several
residences Of wealthy citizens iu Mil
waukee aud to abduct a little girl.
The letter was written with a lead
pencil and was signed "Jack." The
letter was turned over to the police
who looked upon it as the work OF
a lunatic. The day following the
finding Of the letter the following
advertisement appeared in the Mil
waukee Journal: "Lost-Reward Of
s. for the return Of letter addressed to
William Stewart, Chicago, III. Ad-
dress letter to John Smith, Milwau-
kee, general delivery" The Journal
also received letter signed "Jack,"
in which the writer says he is the per-
son who lost the letter in the street
car and that it was he who advertised
for it. He. says he was expelled from
desperate gang Of robbers and kid
napers, who are working In different
parts of the country, and that he has
determined to inform against them
Then he tells of a plan which had
been arranged to rob the Scandian
Milwaukee residence, abduct the little
girl and hold her for a ransom. Be-
sides the Scandians he says numerous
other prominent people, including
Mayor Rose, Captain Pabst and
Charles Uihlein are marked for visits
from the gang. The Cudahys think
there is 20 connection between the
gang that abducted their son and the
Milwaukee gang, but they are wiring
inquiries and will be able to say more
definitely later.