New-York tribune., 1906-07-21
SEEK HARTJE CHILDREN
KIDNAPPERS ON WAY.
Police Guard Scott Home-Bad
Day for Plaintiff.
TBy Telegraph 10 The Tribune. ]

Pittsburg. July 2O-In response to a telegram
from Superintendent Taylor of the Philadelphia
police, Thomas McQuaide, superintendent of the
Flttsburg police to-day sent two officers in citi-
zens clothes to the home of John F. Scott. father
of Mrs. Mary Scott Hartje. to guard her children
against kidnapping. The telegram was as follows:
IL Rum9E plot completed here to kdnaP Hartje chill
burg No description.
Superintendent McQuaide Immediately posted
guards. and will maintain them until the divorce
case is ended. At the time he sent detectives
to watch all incoming trains. detective agency
also sent two men to the house who will accom-
pany the two children wherever they go.
An unknown man attempted to break into Judge
Frasers room early this morning. presumably to
steal the records in the Harte case. He was dis
covered by the janitress. and made his escape. All
the county detectives have been ordered out and it
is hoped the will be captured by morning.
This a bad day for Hartje Point after point
decided against him. The final and crushing
blow administered when the court decided that
the confession of Clifford Hooe. the Negro whom
Hartje first named correspondent. could be adj
mitted IL evidence. HoOe confessed that he had
been hired by John L. Welshons and Harue to
make the deposition he did, and John Freeman
counsel for Mrs. Hartje, charges them with con-
spiracy to manufacture evidence and subOrn testi-
mony
Hartje's attorneys made a battle for hours to
prevent the admission of this confession, but with
out avail. Detective Ray was called to the stand
day he confessed the first peaceful day he had
had in four months His wife and mother scOlded
him; the persons who had employed him had not
done what was right by him. and every time he
to Pittsburg he was sent away again He
felt he said. that he should have had his head cut
jfP for talking against the woman
The witness said that no inducement was offered
to Hooe to make the statement.
Alderman King, who followed Ray. said that
when the deposition was read to Hooe at the hear
ing, he said the statements were true and correct
In reply to question to Hooes mental condi-
ton at the time the statement read to him,
the witness said he seemed to be sober and sensible
The defence closed its this evening and
side will then introduce some evidence in rebuttal
and the case will be ready for argument
Philadelphia July 2O-The police to-day were in
formed by Willis r. Brooks, of this city, that he
overheard conversation between three men last
night which led him to believe that plot had been
Matched to kidnap one Of the Hartje children Ac-
cording to his story, he walking through a
small park in the northern part of the city, and
he heard one of three say something about
enough funds to carry out plot to steal child
and a moment later Of the three cautioned the
other two not to talk loud.
Brooks says he left the park, and then returned
ana crawled close enough to the men to listen to
their talking without detection. He says the men
were talking of kidnapping one of the Hartje chill
6ren, and that they had decided to leave Phla-
de!phia at a. m. to-day. After kidnapping the
child they were to go West.
The Philadelphia authorities are nOn-committaI
regarding the matter, but deemed it best to In
not make public the Story OF the alleged blot until
newspaper queries were received from PittSbUrS.