Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1909-05-11
the famous BILLY" Whitla kidnapping
case seems to be at an end.
BOYLE'S STATEMENT.
Charges One Harry Forker With In
stigating the Kidnapping.


Mercer, Pa, May 10-Before he was
taken from here to the pententiary at
Pittsburg, today, James Boyle gave out
the following interview TO be used I'M
der his name:
by James H. Boyle. Monday, May
10, 1909.
The complete history of the kid
mapping of Willie Whitla, the origin
of same and what led up to it:
"One the morning of-between thu
hours of.--Dan Feeble, Jr., was foun
dead on the sidewalk in front Of the
Mauser block, East Federal street.
Youngstown. and over the PROSTATE
form was Harry Forker OF Sharon,
Ia, holding in his right hand Il PACK
age Of letters that was gathered fro,n
tine sidewalk near the dead body OF
Mr. Feeble
AS he was about to DEPART from
the vicinity he was Intercepted by the
writer and man who has since pass
ed to liz reward, Dan Shay. a saloon
keeper of Oak street, Youngstown,
Ohio.
In Mr.. Forkers hurry to leave thu
scene he failed to find two envelopes
that contained four letters. The same
We're picked up by Mr.. Shay and later
taken to his place of business on Oak
street
The writer and Mr.. Shay examined
and read the contents OF same, which
proved beyond q doubt the presence
Of Mr.. Forker there at that time.
The letters were written by a ladT,
two from a party in New York state
and the others from C.QIGland. Ohio.
At q later date Mr.. Forker was APP
prised of the fact that the writer held
these letters in his possession and ask
cd If he could use the same. A Letter
was Immediately sent the :eriter by
Mr. Forkr stating that he. Mr. Forker.
would like to have a personal talk with
the writer. which meeting took place
Il day or 50 after. Mr.. Forker ac-
knowledged he would pay sum If
money for the possession Of said let
ters. The amount not being consider
ca sufficient. was refused. and from
that day on. and up until March, 1908,
the writer. on the preteXt of exposing
the letters and the coincidence of Mr..
FCrker being discovered bending over
the PROSTATE form of Mr.. Reebie had
received at different times amounts OF
money from Mr. Forker to remain sill
Cnt.
About six months ago, when l re-
turned to Sharon with my wife, l met
Mr. Forker on East State street and
informed him that unless l received
$4,000 between then and the time | IN
tended to leave Sharon, | would hold
the secret no longer
He then informed me that it was
impossible for him to get that amour:
of money. but some time in April, 1909,
he was to come in possession of q
certain amount of money, and would
then turn some over to me, which was
satisfactory at that time.
ION my leaving Sharon on March Il.
| 1903. I proceeded to Cleveland Ohio, and
| on the same evening l addressed 10
| Forker No. 2449 East State street. Shar-
On. a letter which read as follows:
Mr.. Harry Forker.
Dear Sir:-I have decided not to wait
any longer in regard to the money prop
osition, and if | don't hear from you soon
there will be some exposing.
| Sincerely yours.
| -. j. Bailey. Cleveland, Ohio
|
! to tie same, which read:
| "'F'riend Bailey You gnow that the
! circumstances and the promise / made
( you when YOU left here, but if you are
really desperately in need of money as
! ) on profess to be- I will outline little
| plan which, with your cooperation, can
/ be very successfully carried out. viz: The
I abduction of j. P. Whitlas son. I can
arrange to have boy brought to Warren
Ohio, due there at Ills with escort
/ tThere is no signature to the Lottery
! II left Cleveland at SIS a. NJ. and ar
| rived at Warren at 1906 A. NJ, then pro-
| ceeded to Niles, Ohio, by street car.
| bearded an Erie train and arrived at
| Warren at Ills but failing to see the boy
| and his escort l got off at Warren and
remained in the vicinity Of the depot.
Adult 10 minutes later boy and escort
! arrived and l was then informed that
they drove from Sharon to Warren. / in.
| formed party to take boy up along Pitts
| burg & Western track, leave him there
and that l would attend to the rest of it.
and which he proceeded to do.
After making inquiries as to the next
train to Cleveland I brought the boy to
Niles, Ohio, from there to Ashtabula, ant
| then Cleveland. On March q received
letter from Mr.. Forker stating tina,
someone had informed Mr.. Whitla that
| they had recognized his boy on March l.
| in Niles, Ohio, and that James Boyle Of
| Sharon was with him, also that Mr.
| WhitIa was afraid to divulge the infor