Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1906-02-17

Condensed Statement of Criminal
Event of Worldwide Notoriety.

Event OF Worldwide NOtOriety.
On the evening of December IS. 1900, Eddie
Cudahy, the 14-year-old son of Edward A.
Cudahy, the millionaire packer. disappeared
from his home at SIS South Thirty-seventh
street. The police were notified but not
until the next morning was clue obtained.
Mr.. Cudahy then telephoned the police a
letter had been found in his front yard ex-
planning that his son had been kidnapped
The letter was dated December 10, and was
anonymous. 1t stated the boy had been
kidnapped and demanded $4,000 for his ram
som, calling to mind the case OF Charley
Ross as reminder of the dlreful conse-
quences should the father fail to comply
with the demands of the criminals. Hideous
torture to his boy and the capture of an
other rich mans son to be held for 500 900
ransom also were threatened for noncom-
pliance.
This letter infinitely instructed Mr.. Cud
ahy as to the course he should folloy In
redeeming his son. He was to place $4,000 in
gold pieces, fves, tens and twenties, in a
flour sack, haul IL to certain spot on the
Fremont road designated by a lantern
this being ordered done at night-leave the
money, return home at once and disclose
the matter to none. Mr.. Cudahy, against
the advice of attorney and police, did as
commanded, getting the money as quickly
as possible from the Omaha National bank
and with an escort taking 1t in buggy to
the very spot designated by the lantern.
The boy was returned safe and sound
within thirty-six hours after mis- abduction,
at 80 in the morning.
Then the police got busy on the case try
ing to get a clue to the kidnaper or kid
napers. December 20, after Mr. Cudahy
had employed two Pinkerton detectives
from Chicago. he said he had a tip that
Pat Grove, formerly an employee OF his
packing house in South Omaha, had been
seen in his neghborhood the afternoon and
evening OF the day the boy was taken.
Also he had heard that Grove had told
some friends of his ~ n scheme he had for
kidnapping a rich mans son. Combining
these circumstances the police and detec-
tives suspected Grove and took up the trail
for him.
Mr.. Cudahy offered a reward of $25, 900 for
the capture OF the kidnapers. The city
council and mayor of Omaha duplicated
this offer and later increased 1t by 5000,
making the total reward offered $500.
Eddie Cudahy told his story of how he
was captured by two men, one OF whom
thrust a pistol in his face and told him he
was Eddie MCGEE, who wanted for
stealing $500 the criminal saying he was
the sheriff OF Sarpy county. The lad was
blindfolded and taken to the famous
Grover street cottage, which had been
rented by two strange men, But the boy
nor the people from whom the cottage was
rented could throw any light upon the kid
napers. Later James Callahan who had
been seen with Grove i'm the Cudahy neigh
borhood. also was suspected and a system
attic search for the two was set i'm motion.
February Is Callahan was arrested, March
G arraigned in county court and after a
trial lasting ten days, April %. 1901, acquit-
ted. Meanwhile the pursuit of Grove con-
tinued without effect. II became rumored
later he had gone to South Africa and
Joined the Boer army.
In the summer of 1896 stories began to
circulate OF Groves presence in Omaha
and of his avowed desire TO surrender
/ and stand trial. April 20 1906, Chief
Of Police Donahue announced HIS belief y
would be but a short time until Pat Grove
was captured but the police did not come
| I'm contact with him. so far as publicly
| known, until the night OF September 8
| when Oficer A. II. Jackson was shot in a
/ duel between officers and outlaws, one of
/ whom was declared 10 be Pat Grove, the
/ affair transpiring on South Sixteenth street
! near NlntOn Inc EtHcidi impression Wus
land Is that Grove shot Jackson. and news
papers have professed TO have quoted
| Grove as confessng the shooting. But AZ
any rate Grove again eluded arrest HC
was finally arrested. however in Butte
! Mont, October s. 1895, by Butte officer;
and returned to Omaha on requisition
where he first stood trial for the alIegel
shooting OF an officer with intent 10 kill
or this charge he was acquitted and then hs
was tried on the charge of robbing Edward
A Cudahy OF $4,000. this trial beginning
February I and ending February Is. At this
time of the kidnapping the statute books OF
Nebraska contained no law dealing will
the crime OF KIDNAPPING. except OF children
under 10 years Of age, and although suci
laws since have been enacted Grove could
! not be tried under them.
The vital part OF the evidence agains
GROVE in this latter trial was his lettei
to Father Murphy, written April %. 1904
| IN which he made a elear-cut confession
Of kidnapping young Cudahy, taking all tn,
blame on himself. and by implication &C
knowledged getting the money, for he SAFE
he offered TO return 1000 Of It to Mr.
Il caldahy and the latter declined to accep
it ON the terms OF peace OF mercy which
Grove proposed.