The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1901-05-01
CUOAHY CAN GET $4,000 or
HIS RANSOM MONEY TO
DROP PROSECUTION.
PROPOSAL IS AUTHENTIC
negotiations Opened With Letter
Dated at EIgin, Ills, and Is Fol.
lowed by a Personal Interview at
Ch'ca9o-Big Packer Refuses to
Consider the Terms and Is Resolved
to Prosecute to the End,

omaha, May IAN unknown per-
son, purporting to be an agent Of the
kldnappers, has made a proposition to
Edward A. Cudahy to return x21. 900
OF the money paid for the ransom of
his son. who was abducted Dec. Is
last.
1t demanded in return withdrawal
Of the $25,o00 reward and a cessation
OF the search that is being prosecuted.
together with an abandonment of the
determination 10 punish the criminals.
This proposition came in a letter
from Elgin, Ills, and Nj. Cudahy is
convinced of its authenticity. He
went to Chicago recently because of
il, being summoned there by his
brother in response to overtures that
had been made. Mr.. Cudahy refused
TO consider the proposition and de-
clares his unchanged resolve TO pros
ecute To the end the search for the
men who stole his boy.
Il received a letter about 10 DAYS
ago. said Mr.. Cudahy. 1T was dated
April II. at Elgin and bore the Elgin
postmark. | turned it over TO the
detectives and did not make a copy.
II was very brief and recited that the
chief kidnapper had communicated
with the writer and was getting un-
easy. Il set forth that the chase by
the detectives was getting uncomforta-
bly, close and asked if | would with
draw the offer Of reward now out
standing and let I'D on the effort to
find the criminals and have s21 900 of
the S23."oo Of the ransom returned to
me. II seems that the writer got some
what in hnrrv for as soon as ~
mailed the letter he must have
Slipped Right Over to Chicago
where he called on my brother Nj.
chael the same day. which was two
weeks ago. He asked my brothtr
whether would consider a proposi-
tion Of that kind. My brother told him
that he did not know anything about
ii but would ask me to come to Chi
cago and talk the matter over. al
though he did not believe would con.
slider il.
THAT afternoon | received a telo-
gram from my brother. asking me if
could come over. and I replied that
would be over there in the morning.
left here on the afternoon train and
on reaching Chicago learned what had
transpired there. 7 arrived home on
Thursday and the letter from Elsn
was waiting for me The letter was
signed and gave directions as to how
a reply should be addressed to reach
the writer in Elgin So far as the Of
fer is concerned il has been rejected.
refused absolutely and unqualifiedlv
TO consider II and am determined 10
prosecute this search as vigorously as
know how That is what we started
ont TO do and feel as If | would fol-
low these men to the ends OF the
earth.
II realize that this means $4,000 10
me and is a sum that is certainly an
object to any man. no matter what
NAV be his means. AS feel about IN"
matter | would spend my last thou
sand dollars rather than compromish
with the criminals. ! am desirOuS Of
having them punished for what they
have done and to deter any other dar-
ing gang from compelling other par
ents TO undergo what We have under
gone"
CAUSES GREAT EXCITEMENT.