Watertown weekly leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1906-1908, 1906-06-22
KIDNAPPED BOY
Is RECOVERED.
Freddy Muth, Taken from School il
Philadelphia, Is Found by
Police

PHILADELPHIA, Pa, June 49,
Little Freddy Muth, who was kidnapet
from school on Tuesday last, was recov
cred from his captor in n sensational
manner this afternoon. For several day.
the identity of the kidnaper has beef
known to the police, but despite the ef
forts of 400 men who have been work
ing on the case he was not located un
til today.
Shooting at the Finish
Accompanied by one of his men, Chic
of Detectives Donaghv went to 62t
North Eifty-Second street, in West Phil
adelphia, ard there found John JOSEPH
kean with his captive. kean attempted
to escape and was shot at by the deteG
tives. The bullets missed their aim, bu
Kean surrendered and was taken to po
lice headquarters.
The kidnaper, who is 10 years of age
is described as Il former stock broke
who had recently been real estat
agent.
The accused man caught today has 1
wife and three children, and it Is DO
heved that his desperate financial sltua
ton drove him to his crime. In com
munications to the father of the chib
lie demanded $4,000 for its return and il
letter written on Friday declared hi
would kill the child and himself if thu
money was not forthcoming. Keant
terms were acceded TO in n personal,
inserted i'll all of Saturdays papers. II
Il subsequent letter Kean proposed new
terms and these We're likewise accepted
and another personal was inserted il
yesterdays newspapers. Meanwhile mis-
leading stories have been given to thu
public by the police i'll order to serW
their purpose.
Boy Is Not Harmed.
The boy, who is only Z years of age
| was apparently unframed except tia
he bore evidence of suffering from hun
ger and exposure.
When the kidnaper and his victim wen
brought before Superintendent of Polio
Taylor the little one still had in hi
hand the school books he had when h,
was enticed from school by Il decoy not
purporting to be from his mother. TIN
house III which they were found is an un
occupied dwelling on the outskirts of TIN
city.
The capture of Kean was effected by
Detective Blair. The capture was pri
marlIy due to the publication in all Of
today's papers that the police had aban
doned their search for the kidnapped boz
and his abductors. This threw Kean oi
his guard and be yentured outside thu
house: Blair p0unced on him and sue
ceeded in forcing Il confession from him
When the boy was found in the hous
he was very dirty, not having beef
washed since last Tuesday. He said h
had been kept constantly in the house
had been given bread and milk to eat
and was not mistreated Kean KEEP
constant watch from the windows of tn
mouse and whenever any one approached
he would carry the boy to the roof.
kean and the boy We're brought to th
city hall. The police first called Charlie
Muth, the boys father, by telephone, T.
give him an opportunity to cOnvers
with his child. The scene was affectin
as the boy assured his father repeated!
that he is all right, finally inquiring
How are you, papaY'
After making Il statement Kean wa
locked up and the boy was taken home
Other Rich Men Threatened.
Interest in the abduction of Freddi,
Muth was intensified when it becam
known that the police are in possession
of information which indicates the ex
istence Of gang of kidnapers, which
has marked five or six wealthy Phiadel
phia families as victims of blackmail.
Samuel Kuhn. a millionaire banker
admitted that he is among the number
On June he received a letter signet
1.-THE Chester Trio demanding tina
$4,000 be deposited under the Pennsyl
vania railroad bridge over the Cheste
turnpike, and that failure to heed ths
demand would result in the abduction o.
his eldest son, Jack 9 years cid. Mr.
Kuhn obeyed instructions. He then en-
ployed detectives, and had the placl
watched. but the precautions were 81
elaborate that they defeated their owl
purDOSp