The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-06-19
Freddie M,1th's Kidnapper on
Way to Prison to Serve
2O-Year Term.
INDICTED, TRIED AND
CONVICTED IN HOUR
Kean sobs ALI Night in Cell
Captured by Newspaper
Trick.

Philadelphia, June 19.-Arrested,
given a preliminary hearing, his case
turned over to the grand jury and an
Indictment returned placed on trial ana
the penitentiary and on his way to the
prison to begin serving his term, is the
series of important events that have oc-
Cured in less than twenty-four hours of
the life of John Joseph Kean, captured
yesterday for kidnapping little Freddie
Muth, son of local jeweler.
na MeaR heating Min at e am 0r With vi fem
words he was bound over to await the
action Of the grand jury. No sooner
had the writ binding him over been
executed than Captain of Detectives
Donaghy took his evidence before the
grand jury, which happened to be in
session at the time. That body laid all
other business aside and within short
time returned a true bill.
The action was surprising, but was
ecHpsed by the unprecedented speed
that the wheels Of justice negotiated
with that much done. District Attor-
ney Bell prepared for an immediate
! trial and Kean was brought into tho
courtroom. In less than an hour he
|. had been convicted and was on his
way to the state penitentiary to begin
serving the twenty-year sentence inn
posed by Judge Sulzberger.
/ Kean Pleads Guilty.
When Kean was taken before Judge
Sulzberger he requested that he be al
lowed to make statement. He said
there were mitigating circumstances in
connection with the kidnapping, but the
judge told the prisoner he must either
plead guilty or not guilty. Kean then
pleaded guilty.
Three witnesses, the two special po-
licemen who made the arrest and the
proprietor Of the eating house who had
gave testimony before the judge. No
Jury was chosen.
! tHad the disposition of this case
lI would summon a large number OF
mothers here and turn you over to their
tender mercies, but as the law fixes the
tpenalty for crimes like yours / can do
nothing but commit you without bail
charge of kidnapping
Those words were uttered by Magis-
trate Eisenbrown, to Kean.
Threats in Courtroom.
The magistrates office was crowded
when the abductor was arraigned for
!, a hearing, many of the spectators be-
ing women, and muttered threats could
be heard when the prisoner was placed
, in the dock.
4 Freddie Muth was brought to the
: courtroom by his father. He was diff.
, ferent boy from the child who was
. found dirty and hungry in the unoccu.
, pied house after week s enforced alb
sence from home. He was attired in a
, neat blue flannel sailor suit and a pink
| rose was pinned to his lapel. Mr.. Muth
, his experience.
sobbed Thru Night.
In strong contrast was the appear
ancS Of the abductor. After sleep
less night in the cell he was haggard
and wan. His eyes shifted nervously
/, and his whole frame trembled yisibly
He still seemed to fear bodily injury
and eyed the spectators suspiciously.
The police say he paced the cell all
night sobbing and moaning, his wife
and children being uppermost in his
: mind.
When he was placed in the dock
Kean nodded to Freddie Muth, who sal
beside his father and the boy smiled
Pointing to Kean the little fellow said
There he is papa, see."
Has influence over Boy.
Kean appeared to exert strange in
9 tiuence over the child who showed 1
0 feeling akin to friendship for the man
0 The hearing was brief. Special Police
!, men Clare and Vale told of the arrest
0 James Lenahan, the messenger boy, VIII,
: delivered the note at the schoolhous,
by which Freddie was inveigled from
: his classroom, related the circumstanc.
? of his meeting with Kean. JOSEPH
$ Sager, the baker, testified to seeing tn
Y man and the boy in Elmer Rhoade
g cafe and the latter verified Sager s ties
q timony.
3. Kean made statement which was
T repetition of that made to Superintend
emit of Police Taylor last night. He de
/ MED that he had restrained the child i
y any way, but said on the contrary tina
T Freddie had opportunities to leave hiI
q several times. He said he had not III
treated the boy and in this he was col
3 roborated by the Muth child.
a ---n --or