Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-06-19
GIVEN TWENTY YEARS
Kidnaper of Freddie Muth
Promptly Tried.
RAlLR0ADED TO PRISON
Arrested and Sentenced in Less Than
Twenty-Four Hours.
PRISONER IN WRETCHED STATE
Paced His Cell All Night, Sobbing
and Moaning of Wife and
Children.
PRISONER IN wRETCHED STATE

PHILADELPHIA, June 19.-"Had I the
disposition of this case / would summon a
large number of mothers here and turn you
over to their tender mercies, but as the law
fixes the penalty for crimes like yours i
can do nothing but commit you without
ball for the action of the grand jury
the charge of kidnapping"
These words were addressed by Magistrate
Eisenbrown to John Joseph Kean, the alb
ductor of Freddie Muth, the seven-year-ol
son of Charles Muth, the Columbia avenue
jeweler, who with his captive was discover
ed yesterday after six days search in
vacant house in West Philadelphia.
Prisoner to Be Railroaded.
1t was the aim of the police depart
ment to railroad the prisoner to the peni-
tentiary and Immediately after the hearing
captain of Detectives Donaghy went before
the grand jury with his witnesses and asked
for an indictment District Attorney Bell
said he would do everything in his power to
facilitate the trial of Kean.
The magistrates Office was crowded when
the abductor was arraigned for a hearing
many of the spectators being women. and
muttered threats could be heard when the
prisoner was placed in the dock.
Freddie Muth was brought to the court
room by his father.e He was different boy
from the child who was found dirty and
hungry in the unoccupied house after a
weeks enforced absence from home He
was attired in neat blue flannel sailor suit
and pink rose was pinned TO his lapel
Mr.. Muth said the child was none the worse
for his experience. In strong contrast was
the appearance of the abductor
After a sleepless night in the cell he was
haggard and wan. His eyes shifted nerv-
ously and his whole frame trembled visibIy.
He still seemed to fear bodily injury and
eyed the spectators suspiciously. The
police say he paced the cell all night sob
bling and moaning. his wife and children
being uppermost In his mind
When he was placed in the dock Kean
nodded to Freddie Muth, who sat beside
his father, and the boy smiled. Pointing to
Kean the little fellow said: There he Is,
papa. see"
Kean appeared to exert a strange infiu-
ence over the child. who showed feeling
akin 10 friendship for the man.
Hearing Was Brief
The hearing was brief. Special Policemen
Glare and Vale told of the arrest James
Lenahan, the messenger boy who delivered
the note at the school house by which
Freddie was inve!gled from his class room,
related the circumstances of his meeting
with Kean. Joseph Sager, the baker, testi-
fed to seeing the man and boy in Elmer
Rhoades' cafe. and the latter verified
Sager's testimony.
Kean made a statement which was a
repetition OF that made to Superintendent
of Police Taylor last night He denied that
he had restrained the child in any way,
but said, on the contrary. that Freddie had
opportunities to leave him several times.
He said he had not ill-treated the boy. and
child.
Kean Promptly Convicted.
The grand jury later found true bill
against Kean and ne was given an imme-
date trial and convicted in less than an
hour. Judge Sulzberger sentenced the prts-
oner to twenty years. From the time OF
Kean's arrest until he was on his way to
the penitentiary TO begin sentence less than
.wenty-four hours had elapsed.
When Kean was taken before Judge Sulz-
berger he requested that he be allowed to
make a statement. He said there were
mitigating circumstances In connection with
the kidnapping but the judge told the pris-
oner he must either plead guilty or not
guilty. Kean then pleaded guilty.
Three witnesses. the two special police
men who made the arrest. and the pro-
prietor of the eating house who had seen
Kean and the lad together. then gave tes-
timony before the judge. No jury was
chosen The prisoner was sentenced imme
diately.