Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1909-03-26
KIDNAPPED BOY RESTORED TO
HIS PARENTS.

Billy Whitla, lad eight years of age.
son of Attorney J. P. Whitla, of Sharon,
Pa, was kidnapped from the school he at
tended in that town on Thursday of last
week. The kidnapper gave his name as
Jones, and, telling the teacher that Mr..
Whitla wanted his child at his office, took
the little fellow away in buggy, carrying
him nobody knows where. The parents of
the child were plunged into the deepest
distress and the whole country was aroused
by the occurrence.
After fruitless trip to Ashtabula, Ohio.
last Sunday, in quest of his boy, Mr.. Whitla
received word in Sharon that he could get
him in Cleveland, Ohio, if he fulfilled GER
tain promises and conditions. one of which
was that he or his representatives should
visit a certain drug store in Cleveland,
meet representative of the kidnappers,
pay over $4,000, and the boy would then
be returned to him at the hotel. Mr.. Whitla
went to Cleveland, arranged to deliver the
ransom money as directed and spent the
rest of the day (Monday) waiting around
the Hollenden Hotel corridor for his boy.
About o'clock that evening a street
car stopped in front of the hotel. The con-
ductor jumped off with the boy in his arms.
Calling a policeman and saying This is
Willie Whitla, take him to his father at
the Hollenden Hotel" the conductor jump
ed back on his car and started away with
out any further explanation. The police
man took the boy to Mr.. Whitla as di-
rected
At $50 o'clock Mr.. Whitla and the boy
Billy went to bed. The boy was worn out
and Mr.. Whitla absolutely refused to let
any one see the little fellow until he had
some rest.
I'VE won't start back to Sharon before
morning." said Mr. Whitla. Il have tele-
phoned Mrs. Whitla and she may come on
here tonight. can't say just now what
will be done. | am going to get some sleep,
the first since Thursday. | am worn out
with anxiety and work in searching.
can't tell you about the deal made just
now. may do so when get some rest y
That the deal by which the boy was re-
turned was bold one is evident by what
little is known now. About O'Clock a
man and woman with the boy got on a
Payne avenue car at Thirteenth street. in
the heart of the city. The boy went for
ward in the car, while the man and woman
sat near the door. A few streets further
on the man got off, but the woman did not
leave the car till Ninth street was reached
The conductor asked the boy where he
wanted to get off. and the boy answered
81 want to get to the Hollenden to meet
my father"
who is your father?" asked the con-
ductor
"Mr. Whitla," was the answer. II ar
Billy Whtla."
The conductor by this time had passed
the Hollenden with his car and took the
lad around the Federal Building loop. They
then stopped the car on the return trip t
the Hollenden and passed the lad over to 6
policeman.
"Oh, my boy" suddenly cried the father
who had been sitting in the lobby of the
hotel all afternoon. He jumped to his feet
rushed toward a policeman who had just
entered the lobby, and, grabbing his sor
by the arms, ran up stairs.
Willie is in perfect health. He says he
has been well treated, and ever since his
capture has been constantly indoors. He
believes he was taken from Sharon to War.
rem and thence to Newcastle. Pa. 1t is hi:
opinion, expressed in a happy schoolbo,
way, that he was in Astabula on Saturday
night at the time his father was to leave
his $4,000 in Flatiron Park.
The State Senate of Pennsylvania ha'
offered a reward of $4,000 for the cap
ture and conviction of the kidnappers anC
every effort will be made to bring them t.
justice.
Since the above was put in type two
men and woman have been arrested il
Cleveland on suspicion of being the kid
nappers of the Whitla child. Nearly tel
thousand dollars in money was found upoI
them. Later Willie Whitla identified two
of the parties as the man and woman wh'
kidnapped him. The man gave his name
as James H. Boyle, and said the woman
was his wife He is said to reside il
Sharon and to be plumber by trade Thu
pair will be carried back to Sharon to an
swer for the crime.
The case has many elements of myster!
and is further complicated by the act of I
woman. known as Mary Diener, who com
mitted suicide in Cleveland on Wednesday
The police think she may have been impli
Gated in the kidnapping plot. The woman
drank poison while standing in front of ;
drug store not far from the house in whicl
Willie Whitla was detained in Cleveland