The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-01-02

~ Dc al lOooibii6 toplC VI SOAfCASo~.O--
IN this city. The ease with which the
daring plot was consummated and the bold
ness with which the whole thing was de-
signed and executed seem almost incredible
at this day and time From the window
OF his temporary prison young Eddie
Cudahy could have seen his fathers pack
ing houses. provided the curtains had been
removed In fact, he remarked after his
release upon the nearness of his place of
captivity to the packing houses because of
the pronounced odOr.
This phase OF the case was the first clew
the Pinkertons selected. The boy related
that the ordor from the packing plants was
most intense the whole time he was a
prisoner. The detectives sought the local
Weather Bureau and ascertained that dur
ing all of Tuesday evening and Wednesday
and Wednesday night. the period of the
boys imprisonment the wind at Omaha
was due north. The detectives then agreed
that the boys temporary Jail was but
short distance north of the packing houses,
and at once began a search Of all the va
cant houses m the section that were located
in that territory. They are very numerous.
but the force of searchers were near to the
very den in which the robbers had confined
their victim when boy who had seen the
horse described as belonging TO the bandits
tied at the old house telephoned the police,
and the search for the place was over.
One OF the most singular phases of the
whole case, according to a leading Pinker-
ton man engaged on IL, is the ease with
which the bandits secured the ransom and
the immunity from Interference which they
appeared TO have enjoyed. The Pinkertons
point out that here was the opportunity for
the police to have bagged their game, and.
in fact. 1t was about the only weak point
OF the case. so far as the bandits were con-
cerned. Chief of Police John Donahue adj
mits, too, that I'm attempting TO secure the
gold deposited by the frantic father the
robbers left a breach I'm their plans which
WD1Il6 have resulted In their hflf
he explains that he was unable to do as he
desired at this stage of the game because
OF Mr. Cudahy's positive refusal to take the
police into his confidence for fear that they
would scare the bandits away i'm trying 10
capture them and he would risk the life
OF his son.
Mr.. cudahy told the chief clearly that he
must keep hfs hands off until he got his
boy: then he would offer a reward and
they could go TO work on the case Chief
Donahue did point out the ease with which
the men could be taken while they were
trying 10 escape with hundred pounds of
gold. but the point the bandits made in
their letter demanding the money--that the
police had prevented the father of Charley
Ross from paying the ransom demanded
and the boy had thus been lost to his par
ents forever-had the desired effect.
MEN MIGHT HAVE BEEN CAPTURED.
IL Is now clear that il would have been
the easiest thing In the world to have either
captured killed the daring chief of the
outlaw bend who undertook the dangerous
task OF receiving the ransom. In fact, the
chief of Omaha's police had figured the
case out very correctly up to this point
The letter of the kidnapers explained that
Mr.. Cudahy should take the gold in his
buggy and drive west along the Center
street boulevard until he reached a point
where he should observe a lantern tied to
a tree or bush by the roadside. The letter
did not explain how far the father would
have to go, and in this there was great
cunning manifested on the part of the
thieves Had the letter stipulated a GER
tain point for the cash to be delivered a
Gordon of officers and civilians would have
been placed around the place. and capture
would have been certain.
AS numerous vehicles passed the point
where the lantern signal was shown just
before and just after MIR. Cudahy arrived,
and no light was seen. 1t is quite certain
the robbers knew of the approach of the
Cudahy vehicle, and did not light the signal
until the Cudahy buggy was within a short
distance of the rendezvous. In fact. Mr..
Cudahy said he was within a few yards of
the light when il suddenly flared up as If
just lighted or just uncovered. These facts
make IL quite probable that there was one
robber stationed at the point where the
signal light to be exhibited and
other on a bicycle who followed close be-
hind the Cudahy buggy TO be sure there
was no guard following Mr. Cudahy who
would undertake to interfere with the op-
Grafton OF the robbers. Either this was the
case or but one robber was out on the
road. This is the view many of the de-
tectives take of this phase of the case.
Mr.. Cudahy recalls that when he was
within quarter of mile of the place
vince the light was shown small man
bending low over a bicycle passed by him
swiftly and disappeared in the direction
OF where the light was seen few min
utes later. The detectives think this man
ON the wbee, was either one Of the ban
dts. who was TO first ascertain that there
was no one following Edward Cudahy. and
was then to dart forward and have his
brother bandit in waiting show the signal.
or that he carried the lantern and dis
mounted from his wheel at this point with
the lantern which he carried or had Sc
GREETED in advance, which he Immediately
lighted and displayed.
III this were so the robber of necessity
either followed Edward Cudahy from the
time ne left his home, or was intimate
enough with the Cudahy vehicles TO be able
10 recognize the buggy as ii passed him in
his hiding place, somewhere along the
road The last proposition Is more like
IL. because at that time the entire neigh
borhood around the Cudahy residence was
fn a state Of alarm. and a stranger found
waiting around there. as the robber must
have Gone IL he were looking for Mr.
Eudahy TO start on his trip to the woods
would have been arrested or would have
excited suspicion. Mr.. Cudahy noted that
proceeded fifty yards from the spot. This
was another indication OF the holiness of
the fODDef. ana or MS utter indifference
TO danger or detection
WHERE THE POLICE ERRED.
Here was where the detectives are in
ciined to think the Omaha police erred in
not making certain the capture of at least
one Of the robbers. They knew the route
Mr. cudahy would take to reach the To-
cality described by the letter OF the ban
dts. The route was over a natural bicy-
Gle course. Ii Is sand boulevard. and
stretches for seven miles west into the adj
Joining county At intervals OF every quar-
ter section along this boulevard are inter-
sectins dirt road. which. on that night
were in perfect condition for bicycling. The
detectives Of the Pinkerton agency argue
that Il would have been the easiest thing
imaginable 10 have placed a couple Of
well-armed and nervy policemen In citi-
gems clothes just beyond the city limits
along this route TO watch for the approach
OF the Cudahy buggy. They could have let
the wagon get half mile ahead of them
or at least far enough ahead that il could
just be discerned by the bicycle scouts II
one OF the bandits had been following on n
wheel he could not have been any further
back than this behind the Cudahy buggy.
Taking IL for granted that one OF the
bandits on a wheel was behind the Cudahy
buggy. The detectives would have probably
located the thief before he did them IL he
took alarm and Narted on run for Il
they could have speeded right after him
Certainly the presence OF z strange man In
section W At ffsof