The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1901-06-29
DETECTIVE
ARRESTED.

OnS, Luke Rlley ana II. II. oeloy
we're held to.day In $500 bail by AL
derman Smith, of this city for Court.
Back of this arrest there Is a great
story Of an alleged kidnapping plot,
Yesterday morning, letter direct.
ed to County Commissioners Henry
Marshall was received at his home in
Glenoldcn and In the absence OF Mr..
Marshall in Media 1t was opened by
bis wife. Its contents terrified her.
"a few lines ahead Of time is bet
ter than filing your home with sad
ness. Your boy is to be kidnapped
within a few days, and he shall be put
to death by having his eyes burned
out with hot pokers. Your only
chance to save him is to forward $3.50
by the 9th Of June, in the evening
at 10 o'clock exactly"
The letter then gave directions how
the money was to be placed. A Ian
tern with black ribbon around 1t
and the globe smoked so as to make a
dim light was 10 be left on the lawn,
and the money placed by it.
Mrs. Mar shall, who is an iHFalid,
was terribly frightened when she read
the letter, and Immediately called her
husp and up on the phone Detective
Berry was then notified. At2 O'Clock
two men called at the Marshall house
and asked for Mr.. Marshall. When
told that he wasaway they explained
that they were detectives, and hear
ing on a trolley car Of the intended
attempt to kidnap her boy, Harold,
aged s, they asked to be employed on
the case. Suspicious of the men,
Mrs. Marshall told them to come lat.
er when her husband was at home,
stating at the same time that the
money would b, placed at 10 o'clock
near the lantern.
Shortly after that hour the men,
accompanied by third, called at the
house and walked into the arms of
Detective Berry and Sergeant Mullin
Of the city force. Riley and Selby
were captured, but the third man got
away. When searched loaded revolt
yers were found upon both prisoners.
Riley said he was connected with
the Standard Detective Bureau, at
1913 Filbert Street, Philadelphia, and
displayed a, badge. He lives in Gar
rettford. Selby stated that the man
who got away was Jim Selby, and did
not claim to be detective. Investi.
cation by Berru showed that Riley is
a corresponding operator, and was
considered trusty man. Further
investigation of the case will be made
to ascertain, il possible, whether Ri
ley or Selby are connected with the
man who wrote the kidnapping let
ter. !
No kidnappers appeared at the
Marshall esidence at the appointed
hour.
At the headquarters Of the Stan
dard Detective Bureau, No. lab FIJI.
bert Street, Superintendent Thomas
Payne issued typewriter statement
yesterday which purported to be a
personal investig alton of the arrest
Of Riley and Selby, by A. L. Willard,
the head and front of the establish
ment.
The investigation had been con-
Quoted over the telephone. The con-
tents INDICATED Riley, who was de-
clared to be an operative 'lrregularly'
in the employ of the Bureau. The
statement sets forth that Riley got !
bis information, as stated, from a
trolley car conductor.
"You see, he has brought us sever
Il cases." explained Mr.. Payne. II
10 not believe that he could have
written the letter Ever since he ar
'ested two Fernwood arson fiends,
who were held under $500 bail, he has !
lad the enmity Of the county officials
But if Mr.. Willard finds that he is in /;
my way connected with the sending !
Il the letter, we will show him up as
lie should be-
The fact that he gave his right
anne is a point in his favor, "