Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1909-05-11
(There is no signature to the letter.)
II left Cleveland at s:25 a. m. and

(There is no signature to the letter.)
II left Cleveland at 1925 a. m. and
arrived at Warren at 10:06 a. M, then
proceeded to Niles, o., by street car. I
boarded an Erie train and arrived at
Warren at 1n:1S a. M, but falling to
see the boy and his escort, got of at
Warren and remained in the vicinity
of the depot.
about ten minutes later boy and es-
cort arrived and was then informed
that they drove from Sharon to War
rem. informed the party to take the
boy up along the Pittsburg & West
ern track, leave him there and that
would attend to the rest Of it, which
he proceeded to do.
after making inquiries as to the
next train to Cleveland brought the
boy to Niles, o., and from there to As
tahula, and then to Cleveland. On
March %, received letter from Mr..
Forker stating that some one had in
formed Mr.. Whitla that they had rec
ognized his boy on March IS, in Niles,
o., and that James Boyles was with
him and telling me to be careful and be
on the. alert and that when received
the money to Immediately surrender
these Youngstown letters, to send same
to him. Mr.. Forker, at Sharon, and on
Tuesday, April %, to return half of the
ransom money to him. Mr.. Forker, and
he would turn over the same to the
party who took Willie Whitla to War
rem.
90 oyvaiSN tnf Soo C
mentioned in connection with the case,
made it point to meet Mr.. Whitla
personally in Cleveland at Fifty third
street and ST. Clair avenue, showed him
the letter that passed between Mr.
Forker and myself, also the Youngs-
town letters and Mr.. Whitla promised
that If I would substantiate the truth
of the Youngstown letters he would
see that there would be no prosecu-
ton.
II then surrendered thru Mr.. Whit
Ia all the letters that were in my pos
session and the world knows the result.
was arrested and convicted, and de-
prived by my own counsel of telling
my story on the stand. informed my
wife the boy was brought in order to
escape being quarantined in the pest
house and we were handsomely re-
warded for taking care of him.
This unfortunate woman was duped
from start to finish in regard to the
boy and i was duped from the moment
let the letters go into Mr.. Whitla's
possession. AS my counsel afterward
informed me, I had nothing to show or
to prove and that it was a matter of
veracity-their word against mine. I
had given up every scintilla had, and
now I am settled for. This story is as
true as there is a God above US.
The statement isN signed Jam IS
Boyle, Mercer, Pa, May 10, 1902
Says WhitIa Pledged Immunity.
When he met j. P. whitla in Cleve-
land in regard to the payment of the
ransom. Boyle says, he told the father
Of the boy all about the case and
Forker's alleged participation in it.
He adds that Whitla said If he could
prove the story there would be no
prosecution. The child stealer by turn
clares he did prove his case by turn
ing over his evidence-which consist
ed Of several letters-to Whttla, and
that whitla did not keep his pledge.
Both Whifla and Forker vigorously
deny the charge of Boyle, calling it
"absurd" and rot" In addition to
this, the trial judge, the attorneys for
the defense, the district attorney, and
all his assistants discredit the story.
Il don't believe there is the slightest
foundation for the Forker story" said
Judge Williams II was sorry to i'm
pose the maximum sentence upon the
Boyles, but after Investigating their
records there was no other course"
"At no time,' said ]. M. Lininger,
district attorney, "has our secret or
open investigation indicated that there
was third party, and can not believe
now there is."
II have known Harry Forker for a
great many years." said H. S. Miller,
Chief counsel for the Boyles. "I am
confident there is nothing whatever in
the story regarding him.