New-York tribune., 1906-06-19
GET MU.TH AND CAPTOR.
LATTER ADMITS CRIME.
Kidnapper Taken at Pistol Point
Indicted for Em5ezzIement Here.
rBy Telegraph 70 zna Tribune. 4


was restored to the of his mother this
afternoon, and his self-confessed abductor, John
Joseph Kean narrowly escaped violence at the
hands Of angry mob.
When the child was placed at a telephone IN
the Office OF Mayor Weaver and told to talk to
his mother 1t seemed IL every man there, in
Guiding the Mayor. police officials and men ac-
customed 70 scenes of heartbreaking interest,
would never recover from the tense excitement
Of the occasion. Tears ran down their cheeks
and not man said a word
The boy. with smudgy, face and showing the
hardships which he had undergone during a
close confinement in bare. unfurnished house.
TO which kean had taken him in a carriage
when he called him out of school. scarcely real
lied his position. He had been kept under sub
lection by means OF drugs and liquor and
not at all like bright boy Of seven years. He
first talked to his father over the telephone and
told him that he was safe at police headquar-
ters, but he showed little interest in that pro-
ceeding When he heard his mothers voice over
the wire. however. the lads face lighted up and
he fairly shouted her name and was almost be-
side himself with glee.
In a little while the boy was taken to his
home, where Mrs Muth grasped him in long.
fond embrace. and then tainted from sheer 10y.
Only one or two close friends were permitted in
the house at that moment. for Mrs Muth had
been showing signs OF complete collapse since
yesterday. under the strain to which she had
been subjected for seven days
KIDNAPPER NEEDED MONEY
When brought into the City Hall, Kean, the
kidnapper. said:
1 never intended TO do the boy any injury I
needed the money, and intended to take the boy
five or six miles from Philadelphia Then I
intended to write to his parents telling them
that had the boy, and for certain considera-
ton would return him to them.
The child and his captor were taken after q
dramatic and sensational scene. The police re-
ceived Information several days ago. which led
them to suspect Kean and although the man
was known by sight to several Of Captain DON
aghy's men, they were unable to find him until
to-day.
Kean. they learned, lived at No. 415 North
Horton street. a small and newly laid out block
between 61st and 62d streets, north of CalIow
HILL This house had been under close survei-
lance ever since the first intimation of Keans
taking part in the crime reached official
Despite this vigilance, no trace of Kean or the
boy came to light. To-day. however. woman
neighbor Of Keans caught sight of the wan face
of boy at the window OF the vacant house. She
Informed the police, md the rest was easy al
though Kean showed fight and tried to escape
Although the police department professed- 10
be on the track of Kean a day or two after the
abduction, they purposely gave out stories 10
lead him astray. This morning all the local
newspapers by request Of Captain Donaghy OF
the Detective Bureau, printed stories that the
search had been abandoned because the boy
known to be with relatives in New Jersey and
that the history of the case would reveal fam
lily skeleton. This. It was expected. would throw
the kidnapper OF his guard and aid In his capt
ure He had written several letters to Mr.. Muth
demanding ransom for the boy. and Mr.. Muth
had replied by personals" in the newspapers,
agreeing TO pay the sums named: but while the
police watching these matters, Kean had
the lad safe IN the West Philadelphia house
within a few hundred yards of police station.
NO CONFEDERATEs. SAY POLICE
Captain Donaghy was convinced that Kean
and the child were in the city, the evidence or
this being In the five letters which the kdnapper
sent TO Mr.. Muth negotiating for the return or
the boy. All OF these. with the exception Of one
received from Wilmington. Del. were mailed in
the central district of Philadelphia. The VIII
Inington letter. the police say. Kean denies hav-
ing written although he refers 10 1t in a subse-
auent communication II is hinted that this
missve mailed by a woman, but the police
declare that Kean had no confederates In the
abduction.
The first information that Kean and his cap
tive were in the neghborhood in which the ar
eventually made came from Joseph
Sager, a baker at Goth street and Haverford
avenue who told a policeman last week that he
had seen a man and boy answering the descrip-
ton OF the pair in an oyster saloon at No. 6013
Haverford avenue after midnight last
Wednesday.
Special officers Clare and Vale were imme-
diately detailed on the case and instructed to
remain in that neghborhood until further orders
They Immediately began search or all the
vacant houses in the neighborhood. and their
search led them TO the very house occupied by
the abductor and the child. The dwelling houses
were so constructed, however, that by means OF
a rear shed Kean was able TO elude the police
by climbing into the back windows of two ac-
toining houses which also unoccupied.
second investigation to-day resulted in the re-
coyery OF the boy ard the arrest OF the kid
napper.
sager, the baker was acquainted with Kesn.
and the police were thus enabled to obtain his
address They visited his home and learned
from his wife that he had not been there with
her knowledge since last Monday, the day pre-
vious TO the abduction She stated, however.
shat he had evidently crept into the house
pillow an overcoat and cape were missing
With this clew TO work on. the police redoubled
their efforts They were certain OF the identity
Continued second page.