Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1908-09-23
} A Message by Telephone.

pulled through with much difficulty
and was preparing for bed, hoping that
! would be allowed to sleep till morn
Ing, when there was ring at my tele-
phone.
"Are you Dr. Murdock?" came a
child's voice.
EYES,"
'Tm"- l couldn't make out the
name.
"Who?"
Again the name was a tumble
"Speak louder said.
II don't dare. They'll hear me.''
"Well, what is it? Why do you tele-
phone me?''
you're orr family doctor. I've called
you up for mother often. This after,
noon was passing carriage stand
ing by the sidewalk Two men pushed
me in it and carried me off. Come here
and get me out"
"Wlere?'
II don't know"
"Can't you tell me something about
it,"
II saw Washington street on a lamp
post. The next street sign l saw was
Burnett
Repeat that"
"Burnet"
"All right. Go on"
1--WE didn't turn out Of Burnet. |
kept looking at the street names, and
after we crossed Chestnut
That was the last word got. /
called again and again without any
reply, only the buzzing common in tele-
phones. 1t occurred to me at once that
child couldn't tell from the voice
whether it was a boy or girl-had been
kidnapped and had got hold Of tele-
phone only to be stopped in time to
prevent my getting definite Informal
ton. l called up police headquarters
and told my story. and after a few min
utes' consultation among them they
requested me to go with them for a
search. A carriage containing three
men in plain clothes soon drove up to
the house, and we started for Wash
ington street. turning thence into Bur
net and. crossing Chestnut, stopped to
survey the locality.
Meanwhile We had come to the con-
clusion that the kidnapers must have
taken the child to a house of good
class since it contained a telerhone.
The houses near where we stopped
were fine residences 1t was the month
OF August, and, While there were
lights in most of them, one had evil
IDENTITY been closed. A policeman
walked around it and reported that a
ray Of light came through crack in
an upper story. l was requested to
ring the bell and ask if a doctor had
been called for. l rang, but received
no reply. Again and again I pushed
the button, and at last the door was
opened, and woman stood in the
opening. I asked her if doctor had
been called for. and she said no.
The policeman in charge of the squad
was with me, carrying my bag Of
medicines. He pushed into the vesti-
bule
'Shall I strike light, doctor?" he
asked. And without waiting for a
reply he lit the hall gas jet. We saw
that the woman was old and OF forbid
ding appearance.
Say" said the policeman, we've
been telephoned that there's a child
sick in this house, and the doctor
must see him."
At the mention Of the child and the
telephone the woman drew a long
breath. This was enough for the po-
liceman. He ordered the house sur
rounded and. directing the woman to
follow, went upstairs to Il bedroom,
where he found L telephone | went
with them.
Il thought so,' he said at seeing the
phone.
Taking up the receiver, he called up
the nearest police station and in a
few minutes couple more men re-
ported. Then commenced a searching
of the premises. We soon came upon
a man in bed, who was routed out, and
both he and the woman were taken
along with us. We went from garrett
to cellar without finding anything
We were looking about in the laundry
when it occurred to one of the men tc
raise the lid of stationary wash
tub. 1t was fastened The man called
upon the old woman for something 70
pry it open with. She turned pale
Two men grasped the cover and lift
ed it.
There, lying in the tub. was boy
about six years old He was insensi-
Bile, having been given an anaesthetic
to prevent his crying out. recognized
Eddie Thornton. the child of one of
my clients
I took measures to revive the boy.
and he soon came to his senses The
man and woman. on being questioned.
said they had never suspected that 4
boy of six would know how to use a
telephone. though they had forgotten
the phone when they put him where
1t was. The woman heard him. as she
supposed. talking to himself, but soon.
suspecting that he might be up to
some mischief. rushed into the room
and took away the receiver.
l went upstairs. telephoned the boys
parents. who were in a frightful condi-
ton of mind. and told them the news
Then | drove Eddie home.
Since this episode have recon-
mended all parents to accustom their
children as soon as possible to the use
of the telephone Eddie. remarkably
precocious child. had been infatuated
with the instrument ever since its in
PRODUCTION into the house. His mother