Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1906-06-20

Joseph Kean. the kidnapper Of little
Freddie Muth, yesterday afternoon
began a twenty-yea sentence at soil
tary confinement and hard labor in the
Eastern Penitentiary, within twenty
four hours after his capture.
Only two hours and thirty minutes
elapsed between the time the kidnap-
per was taKen into the court Of the
committing magistrate and tho mo-
ment when the sentence was imposed.
The prisoner admitted oil charges
gave one, that OF having ill-treated the
lad whom he had kept prisoner in the
vacant house at 425 North Sixty-second
Ntreet. He made a fearful appeal for
mercy, but without avail.
Keau can hardly survive the term of
his imprisonment. He is feeble
wreck. Moreover, he says that he will
commit suicide II death does not come
naturally very soon. The police have
taken constant precautions TO see that
he does himself no harm.
Should the convict live and conduct
himself properly in prison twelve years
and three months he would bo turned
loose free man. The communication
system would enable him TO pay the
penalty of his crime in about eight
years less time than the sentence de-
crees.
The man passed a sleepless night in
the cellroom nc the City Hall and
pushed aside the food that the Warden
carried TO him in the morning. When
he was taken 10 court he-scanned the
faces Of all who entered. AS he gazed
Freddie Muth entered with his father
As he passed the cell the prisoner
called 'HeLlo, Freddiel =" and the
child turned and looked straight into
the face Of the man who had kid
mapped him. No expression Of fear
appeared. Hesmiled slightly, but did
not answer
Special Policeman Clear, who, with
his fellow special, Beal, had captured
the kidnapper, approached Freddie as
he sat upon ,the bench.
"Do you feel better today, little
mani" asked the special.
Freddie looked up and answered;
''Yes, thank you, sir. "
Magistrate HiBanbrown entered the
court, and at RswoFd the kidnappor
was hustledsout ofythe prisoners room
and into thefdocly. His trembling re-
turned. Hislshalrlng hand sought his
face and ,nemainad there while the
eyes of alltnsth0 Oourtnoom. were upon
him.
what. wTil they do with meY" he
whispered 90 a guard who stood near
his elbow. Il only wanted money
did not want to hurt the boy"
'Silencel" called n court police
man. The word brought the tremb-
ling man 70 an ereot position, and he
clutched the rail while he answered
the Magistrates questions and heard
the charge.
Several witnesses testified, and then
Freddie was called to the witness
stand.
"Do you know that man in the
iockfn asked Magistrate Eisenbrown.
Freddie looked at Kean and hesi-
tated o moment.
The prisoner sprang forward and
called:
''Do you know me, FreddieY"
Then the child answered, "les. -
He went on TO tell how kean had
taken him from school and kept him
in the vacant house. lie said the man
would often leave him alone. just at
this stage the prisoner lost control of
himself and cried:
II didn't restrict him in anything
! didn't hurt him! / didn'trf
'We will hoar that later the
Magistrate broke in, and the prisoner
euhSldcd.
did this man strike your" the boy
was asked.
"No, was the reply.
After this kean was allowed 10 tell
his story, and then the Magistrate
said:
"If 1 had the disposition OF this
case, l would assemble large number
of women who have children and turn
you over to their tender mercies. /
hold You without bail for the assault
and battery and the kidnapping of
Charles Frederick Muth. "
didn't assault him, " walled the
man as he was led away.
The commitment was taken TO the
Office of the District Attorney and then
disposed of by the Grand Jury, and al
2.l0 O'Clock in the afternoon the pris-
oner was arraigned before Judge Sulz-
berger. Assistant District Attornev
Joseph II. Iaulane was the prosecutor.
The child stolen had no counsel.
Are you guilty or not guiltyY''
asked the Judge, as Kean stood lean
ing half way through the prisoner IS
T" Not guilty in some sense. your
Honor, quavered the man.
Court officer McNicoll whispered
something to him, and he changed his
mind.
"Guilty," he said simply.
Again the facts in the case were gone
over, and then the court said 70 the
prisoner:
You say you might tell some one
with better training than yourself.
If that some one we're here, whai
would you tell him ?'' asked tn,
Judge.
Il would tell him that 1 didn'i
mean to take the boy away, " replied
hean, who clutched the railing. 81
know it looked "A roundabout way ol
getting money, but owed money t,
the landlord, for whom / collected,
and he was pressing me. -
The prisoner sobbed, but soon recov,
cred his voice, and, continuing, said
bought bottle Of laudanum be.
cause 1 felt | was being bounded, anc
told my prosecutor that would TAX,
II rather than be arrested. / never
mentioned an amount Of money 20 Mr..
Muth. l treated the boy nicely-in-
deed / did. -
Judge Sulzberger asked for the let.
ters in the case. While he was read