Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1906-06-23
TWENTY YEARS FOR
KIDNAPPING.
CONTINUED FROM FIRST PAGE.

When Vale reached the third floor
OF SO. f25 le observed Freddie Muth
stcnjinr on tte rear shed of No az.
PIE called 90 him. saying: Hello.
Freddie"
Free On Nidrapper.
Freddie said Hello and imme-
diatcly bewn TO cry. Vale leaped
through the window and stepped across
the roof 20 The adjoining house. lie
was just ln time CD sae Eean hurrying
down Che stairs. Drawing his revolver
he fred az the feeiDe man. but missed
lie orawicd tarough the window and
followed. cat,hinc Up with kcan as the
latter was making Cor the front door
The policemen araiD pointed his re-
volver az the kidnapper. who threw ur
his hands crying. 81 surrender" The
child in the meanwhile had followed
the pair and reached the first floor a.
the arrest was made The kidnapper
and his captive were FASTENED to the
nearest police station and from there
taken Ia a patrol wagon to the city
hall
With tho boy. he was taken into
Mayor Weaver's Office. and the mayor
imm edistely communicated by tele-
phone with Mr. Muth. who fastened o.
the Mayors Office. and the meeting L.-
tween father and child was rost AFFECT
Ing. When his father had ceased 10
hug and caross him. Freddie drew Sow
eral small coins from his pocket and
showed them 20 ar Muth. saying in
his childish way that the man had
given them 90 him.
Was Net 900 Treated.
The child bore no evidence Of III
treatment beyond lack OF sufficient
nourishment He had been fed on
bread and milk which Kean had stolen
from doorsteps. when found he held
a couple OF crusts Of bread in his hands
and his school book was under his arm.
He had not been washed since his alb
duction. and his face was smudged.
while his jacket was much soiled from
sleeping on the dirty floor Of the house
Kean never left him alone until he was
asleep.
Not since the abduction OF Charlie
Ross has this community been so
wrought up by the commission OF a
criminal act The newspapers. IN order
20 aid the police in tracking the kid
napncr. were compelled to publish mis-
leading stories FOR the purpose Of
throwing Kean of his guard. In the
letters which the kidnapper wrote 20
Mr.. Mnth he threatened TO kill the hey
II his demands were rot met. He de-
manded that Mr.. Muth tell the police
a fictitious tale about the disappearance
of his son GA order that the detectives
might De withdrawn. HIS letters wers
answered by Captain Donaghy through
the personal" columns Of the news
papers. and apparently all OF his de-
mands were granted. The reward OF
$1,000 offered by the father OF the boy
was accepted by Kean. and as a test he
sent letter 20 Mr.. Muth requesting
him 20 send $500 20 a certain address,
the remainder 10 be paid later. An
other letter commanded Mr. Muth 70
place the money IN the engine shed of
an engineering operation In the centre
OF the city. The police were on hand
90 arrest Kean II he should appear.
but the letter was received so late that
Kean. II he had been there. had left.
Kean promised in the letter to send
the hoy TO his aunt, Mrs. Becker. at
New Brunswick, II the money was
forthcoming.
Was In Financial Straits.
Kean told the police in his statement
that he abducted the boy primarily te
81 h. H.
Charles J. Cooke. In addition, he said.
he Is IN debt. with no means OF pro-
viding for his family. He said he
never intended 10 harm the boy. and
declared the statements he made in his
letters 10 Mr.. Muth that the child was
being dosed with whiskey were untrue.
He kept Freddie quiet by giving him
candy and pennies. he said
Kean's parents live az 967 Park ave-
nue.. New York. His brother Is TO be
ordained to the priesthood this month.
II developed after Kean's arrest that
he had stolen 500. 600 from TIE Harlem
Bank. New York. when he was book
keeper in 1894. He admitted the theft.
Freddie. with his books still under
his arm. was welcomed home by
more than 1000 persons. MT Muth
had gone TO City Hall. and Mrs. Muth,
who had been Frustrated by the
crime. rose from heE bed 10 welcome
her child. Despite efforts OF relatives
to detain her. she insisted upon wait
ing az the front door untN the crowd
had swelled TO more than 1000 per
sons. Then she withdrew into the
house. and shortly aiterward a car
riage with the boy and his father
drove up 10 the house. The crowd
cheered as the little fellow was bur
ried into the house and into his
mothers waiting arms. The scene
within the home was far more affect
ing than the meeting between father
and son il the mayors ONCE. and
while the mother was listening TO the
child's story the house was closed to
all callers.
Cried For His Mamma.
Later reporters were permitted to
- 4.