Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-12-20
CUDAHY BOY is SAFE
Father Paid $4,000 as Ransom
for His Son.
NO CLEW % 9HE ABDUCfORS
They Are Supposed to Have Es-
capped in a Boat.
HOW THE THING WAS DONE

| OMAHA, Neb.. December 2O-In an extra
| edition the Evening Bee says: Twenty-Five
| thousand dollars in gold was the price paid
by Edward A. Cudahy, the millionaire
packer for the return of his son. Edward
Cudahy, jr., who was abducted by a gang
of kidnapers last Tuesday night.
/ Yesterday about noon letter was left
on the lawn of the Cudahy residence. Sew
eral hours after another missive was delv-
cred to Mr.. Cudafy at his residence. 1t
came through the mails and contained a
proposition to return the boy, safe and I'M
harmed, provided the sum of $4,000 was
paid that night.
In the letter were full directions as to
where the money was to be left and the
| assurance was given that the missing boy
would be allowed to return home within
few hours of the time when the cash was
received.
Plans to Capture the Abductors.
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 rendezvous
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.
terms offered and ransom 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 of his horses
harnessed to a light buggy, and. taking the
money in it with him, left alone for the
| designated place at which the money
| to be left In the buggy he carried red
| lantern. He drove five miles west of town
| on the Sherman avenue road until he ca
| to white lantern hanging on a short stick
| beside the road.
! Alighting from his buggy, Mr.. Cudahy
| deposited the sack containing the money
| near the stick bearing the white light
| Then, without seeing any one, he returned
| to his home.
Boy Returned to His Home.
! Meantime the abductors had seen the red
| light coming up the road. and as soon as
| the buggy disappeared they took away the
| money and prepared to keep faith with the
! father. The boy was bundled into a cab
and set down close by his fathers house
about l o'clock this morning. Where he
| had been he was unable to say but as
nearly as he could estimate he had been
taken five miles south of South Omaha
| The cunning of the gang and their thor
ough knowledge Of the geography of the
| city are evidenced in the plans they laid.
| Close by the place where Mr.. Cudahy was
directed to leave the ransom for his son the
| river approaches the road and it is sup
| posed the men were on the watch for the
millionaire, and saw his red light from a
| boat. = . .
| AS soon he had driven away and
| they had satisfied themselves that no per
| son was lurking near. they probably clam
| bered up the bank, obtained the sack Of
| gold. returned to the boat again and es-
capped without leaving any telltale foot
prints ~" ,. .
No CIssv to the Men,
There is absolutely no clew to the iden-
| tity of the menu e" l.r.tcs.- d.. ..-.
Whether ypung- Guta1hy, viii be able to
give Information that will lead to their
capture is not yet known. ~.
The contents of the note were as follows:
Mr.. E. A. Gudahy--Your son is safe We
have him and will take good care of him,
and will return him to you in considera-
ton of the payment Of $4,000 We mean
business JACK"
In contradiction to the statements of the
theories alleged to have been advanced by
the police Chief Donahue today gave out
the following:
The boy was kidnapped and was taken
from the city. He was returned home about
1:D O'Clock this morning. The police Off
GERS on duty at the house saw him come in