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

speedy bicycle men. II they had been
forced 10 arrest the bandit scout on his
wheel before he had committed an overt
act, they would at least have been In
position where they could have made the
man explain who he was and what he
was doing out there at that hour. Had he
been known crook IL would have been
certain evidence OF his guilt Had 1t been
an honest man the police had stopped by
mistake one officer could have taken him
back TO town for Identification while the
other continued on after the Cudahy
buggy.
If the bicycle detectives had not been in
terrupted they would have continued in
Mr.. Cudahys rear until they saw his We
hicle stop and the driver place the sack OF
gold near the lantern The scouts could
have crept up near enough TO watch any
one moving around the light without ex-
citing the suspicion of a robber lying in
walt near that point. The moment the
detectives saw man around the lantern
they could have recourse to two steps.
They might have followed the retreating
form at "a distance, which would have been
easy since the robbers were carrying
hundred pounds OF gold. or they could have
rushed In with pistols ready and either
killed or captured their man. III he made
n fight he would have been Killed With
his heavy load he might have been pos
sibly pounced upon and taken without fir
ing a shot. Ia that event he would have
teer forced 10 tell where Eddie Cudahy
was, or, at least. held as a hostage for
the boys safe delivery. Better still. If
the. scouts remained undiscovered. they
ing thief back TIC the prison OF the boy,
and there taken the whole outfit or from
the darkness killed them with their pistols.
CUDAHY BOY NOT IN DANGER.
OF course, there was the chance OF the
plan failing and the robbers then murder
ing or Gripping the boy and taking flight.
1t is the consensus of opinion that the
robbers, discovering that the ransom was
not obtainable, would have fed without
hurting the boy They could not have taken
the boy with them, neither could they have
remained long where they were without
discovery. They would not have dared put
their horrible threats into execution, which
contemplated burning out the boys eyes
Had they done this. and they were cap
tured, their immediate lynching would have
followed, whereas, If they had been cap
tured, after releasing the boy a short term
i'm the penitentiary would have been their
worst punishment.
Many critics of Chief Donahue's course
in accepting the suggestion OF Edward Cud-
ahy that he not interfere in the plan to pay
the ransom, take the position that the CHIEF
was under some obligations to society in
general to attempt to capture the kidnap-
ers in spite of the possibility of injury to
young Cudahy; that the protection of the
thousands of other children of rich and
poor alike was an obligation that the
Omaha police were charged with which
made it imperative that Edward Cudahy's
wishes in the case be absolutely ignored.
Upon this theory IL is explained that IL
the chief had spied upon Cudahy regard
less of his wishes and no good had come
of the act. the chief of police would have
been doing his whole duty TO the people
in general However, the chief has many
supporters in the position he took-that the
father whose son was in jeopardy ought to
be permitted to govern his conduct OF the
case until his bow was safe.