Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1900-12-22
THE CUDAHY KIDNAPPING CASE.

THE CUDAHY KIDNAPPING CASE.
The case of the kidnapping of young
Edward A. Cudahy, son of the Omaha
millionaire, presents some matters for
serious thought, aside from mere con-
sideration of the facts, atrocious, heart
less and horrible as they were in pure
innate cussedness and studied law
lessness for pecuniary gain.
The crime is not a new one to Amer
lea, although peculiar to our country.
1t is the meditated result of the cold
blooded ingenuity of a fortunately re-
stricted criminal class, too lazy to work
and too cowardly to rob, and which
finds, in the deliberate stealing of the
children of wealthy parents short cut
to a temporary a1Iluence which they
could enjoy through no other method.
The offense is one which should rank
above murder, and it is pity that the
statute laws Of the various States pro-
vide no adequate punishment. There
is no excuse for lynch law in cases OF
outrage or murder, because the written
| laws OF the land provide adequate pun
| ishment, but there would be an excuse
for the administration of summary
| punishment in such a case as that at
| Omaha, because in no other manner
could justice be meeted out. The pun
ishment ought to fit the crime, and in
| this case there is no adequate penalty
| provided for. 1t is at least unconVen
tional to advocate popular violence as
retribution for any offense, but in kid
mapping cases it appears to be the only
remedy adequate to the circumstances,
and no court aside from that presided
over by Judge Lynch appears compe
tent to meet out the justice which the
occasion demands.
! Every wife, mother and husband
will appreciate thoroughly the motives
which actuated Edward Cudahy to
promptly place at the disposal Of the
/ captors of his son the twenty-five thou
sand dollars IL gold demanded for the
ransom fthe child. The threat of
manning through loss OF eyesight, and
Of possible death, was sufficient to move
him to compliance with the terms
| laid down. Most fathers and mothers,
able to pay. would have done the same
thing under the same circumstances.
And yet, with all due appreciation Of
and regard for filial affection, and with
correct understanding Of the motherly
be regretted that Mr. Cudahy did not
! have the courage and spirit of sacrifice
! to have stood out against the con-
scienceless gang of worse than murder
ers, and have invoked the utmost en-
| deavors of the officers of the law and
! of a sympathetic and indignant public
! tice. There was the alternative of com
! pliance, or the possible mutilation
of the son. But the threat OF the gang
might not have been carried cut, and
| if il had, thera would have been for
! them the assurance of a fate for the
/ criminals as horrible as the mind of
man can conceive. They would have
| known that, and the knowledge would
! have given hem pause. AS it is, they
| succeeded in their conspiracy and not
only they, for they still enjoy freedom
but others equally desperate, are en-
! couraged to make the same attempt
against unsuspecting boys and girls,
sons and daughters Of those able to
; pay ransom, and a species of crime,
more atrocious than assassination, IS
! encouraged. The inevitable result will
| be that imitItors 81 the Omaha scoun-
drels will embark in the same despic-
able business and the children of no
man able 70 pay for the liberty and re-
turn q his offspring will be safe.
AS the matter stand, the only hope
lies in the speedy capture of the Omaha
bandits and the administration of such
| d summary punishment as will for
ever discourage that species of crime
in America. And whatever that pun
ishment shall be, the popular senti-
melt Of the country. law-abiding
! though it is, will endorse and ap-
! prove Of it as a righteous retri-
! button for crime inadequately pro-
vided for by the written law OF the
land, and yet which should call fer the
infection of the death penalty, upon
proof of guilt, without the remotest
! hope O. mercy or clemency.
The kidnapper of children who oper-
ates for gain, should have the hand Of
every man turned against him, ana
there is now the opportunity for an
aroused and indignant public to ex-
press itself in terms so unmistakablc
/ that every criminal contemplating such
I an act will know and realize the immi-
nent peril in which he stands.
Washington. Pa. is to have free ru-
raj mail delivery throughout It's en-
tire area. after the first of the year.
Il is fine territory for an exhaustive