The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1901-10-09

napers, Hut Clumsiness In Blindfolding z
the Victim Led to Their Undoing.
Newspapermen Chief PIotters.
PHILADELPHIA. Oct. 7.-Charged
with kidnapping a woman and holding
her prisoner for four days, robbing her
of jewels worth more than $1,000 and
compelling her to sign bank checks for
large sums Of money is the story which
the police unfolded here yesterday when
they announced the arrest of two news
paper men, a stenographer in another
newspaper office and barber, all OF
whom are charged with completely in the
crime.
The men now locked up at the Central
police station are Howard X. Sloan, an
unemployed reporter; Henry Wallace.
society editor OF one Of the morning
newspapers; ]. Knight Findlay Of
Wayne, near here, stenographer in the
business Office OF another morning pa
per, and Oscar $. Dunlap, barber en-
ployed in one Of the most prominent
shops in the city. The victim is Mrs.
Mabel Goodrich, proprietress of an es-
tablishmeut ON North Tenth street. The
four men were arrested Saturday night.
Last Monday Mrs. Goodrich went to
police headquarters and told story Of
kidnapping and robbery so daring that
the police at first doubted its truth. She
said that for some time past a young
man who represented himself ms a resi-
dent of Germantown had been fire.
qucnt visitor at her establishment. He
was well dressed and spent money free
ly. Last "Wednesday week she said, he
proposed a drive through Fairmount
park. He asked her TO dress in her best
clothes and for her to wear all her dia-
monds and other jewelry because on the
return from the drive he intended TO
take her To the finest dining room in the
city, as he wanted her to ''shine" with
the other women in the place She ac-
cepted and the next day she went out
with him in carriage with pair of
richly-caparisoned horses and with a
coachman ON the box wearing stylish
livery
AT q lonely place in Fairmount park
the carriag" was stopped by n man who,
she said, represented himself as u. Clar-
encc GibbOny, the secretary and attorney
Of the Law and Order society Of ihis
city. Tr's man, she went on to say told
her that he had warran. for her ar
rest, but that the matter could be
fixed up. He was invited into the car
ringc and the next moment she was
gagged ard blindfoldcd.
She was driven somewhere, she did not
know where. bu. she noticed from one
corner Of the handkerchief over her eyes
that the men paid toll at two tollgates
and that they took her into a building
where n fire engine and a hook aud lad
der truck were standing. She was kent
prisoner from Tuesday night until
Friday night without anything to eat
or drink and was then taken on another
lnug drive blindfolded. to house whers
she was kept from Friday until Monday.
w the latter place the men. who were
maskcG, stripped her OF the jewelry and
az thn point of revolver compelled her
TO sign bank checks for various sums of
money she had deposited in the Third
National bank. They made her sign for
more than she possessed. but compelled
her to pl omse she would make up the
deficiency when they released her. The
men. sh" said. then took her on another
long drive and put her out Of the car
riaga az Tenth and Poplar streets, about
n mile from her house.
With other information the woman
gave them, the detectives began to work
on what they believed to he fairy tale.
They got several clues which led them to
iirehouse in North Wayne. 10 miles
from this city. The fire company is a
volunteer organization and the key to
the place was kept in the nearest dwell
ing. The nearest house was occupied by
n frmily named Findlay and there the
police learned that one of the sons. ].
kright Findlay, had been home but lit
tie during the past two weeks. Getting
n description of him the police returned
to the city and found the young man,
who is only 2l years old. in the office
where he is employed.
He was charged with the crime and
broke down and implicated the others.
Findlay said he had impersonated the
coachman, that Sloan, the unemployed
reporter. acted the part of Attorney Glib
bons; that the barber played the part Of
the rich Germantown resident and that
Wallace, the society editor, had rented
house in Germantown, where Mrs.
Goodrich was to have been held a cap
tive
He told substantially the same story as
that narrated by the woman. He said
they kept her confined in the fire house
and then took her to the house where
Sloan was arrested. Mt 2556 North
Twelfth street. The plan to keep her
in the Wallace house in Germantown
was abandoned In favor Of the Sloan
house. Sloan. the police said. conceived
the whole plot, and it was he that got
the barber into it. He had asked Dun
lap to play the part Of the rich man and
get Mrs. Goodrich outdoors. so that he
could serve the warrant on her for keep
ing a disorderly house. He did not re-
veal the real purpose Of the scheme to
the barber.
All the jcwelry was recovered, most Of
it having been found in the possession Of
Findlay and Sloan. who were wearing
several Of the rings. Only one check
for S15j was cashed and most of this
money was also recovered. Sloan was to
have begun work on the same newspaper
on which Findlay was employed today.
The penalty Of Kidnapping in this state,
under act Of assembly. as amended at
the last session of the legislature, is life
Imprisonment for the principals in the
discretion Of the court
Xidnanars UaId on EuII rb.rro