Perth Amboy evening news., 1909-03-22
KIDNAPPED BOY
is STILL HELD
BY ABDUCTORS
Parents Left $4,000 Under
Rock as Directed But
Money Was Not Taken.
BLUNDER OF HOTEL
CLERK UPSET PLAN
Heartbroken Father Will Re-
open Negotiations With
The Miscreants.
Special by United Press Wire.

Special by United Press Wire.
Sharon, Pa, March 22:-For the see
ond time since the abduction of Willie
Whitlas negotiations have been opened
with the kidnappers. While it is not
admitted by the Whitlss or the police
it is known that third letter follow
ing that from Ashtabula was received
today. The letter was postmarked at a
point SO close to Ashtabula as to con-
firm the belief that the boy undoubted-
ly will be located near there or in Ash
tabula.
Despite the law, members Of the state
constabulary galloped across the state
line today, making house to house
search in Warren, Niles, Girard and
vicinity. Others are patroling north,
east and south of Sharon.
A new clue was found today In the
disappearance of mysterious hermit
who lived in the woods north Of Sharon.
On the day of the Kidnapping he was
joined by another man and they disap-
peared.
Still another clue was had today from
Beaver Falls. The nature of this clue
is secreted but the constabulary hur-
ried there to make search.
The father of the boy made vain
attempt to recover his son by paying
| the $4,000 demanded by the child
stealers. Unaccompanied he went to the
desolate Flatiron park near Ashtabula
and placed the big roll Of money be-
meath rock.
A letter from the kidnapers had in.
structed him to take this course. The
mission failed chiefly because Of the
activity of the police, and Whitla re.
turned home disconsolate.
The letter said that IL no detectives
were about they would secure the
money and deliver the boy.
Whitla deposited the money as re-
quested, but the Ashtabula police
learned of the plans to pay the ran
som and went to the park. The kid
napers are supposed to have seen them
1 and feared to take the money.
The Ashtabula police arrested tive
boys whom the kidnapers employed tc
send note to Mr.. Whitla. The boys
gave the police good descriptions OF
the man who handed them the note. A
posse was formed to look for him in
spite of protest from Mr.. Whitla to
the mayor of Ashtabula.
In their communication to Mr.. Whit
Ia the kidnapers said his son would be
sent to the Smith hotel, Ashtabula FIVE
hours after they got the money.
In order that there might be no mis-
take made another letter, it was prom
ised, would be written to Whitla un
| - fa
was to receive this letter at the Smith
hotel in Ashtabula. Whitla was in
structed specifically that he was to be
accompanied by no one when he went
to the park to deposit the money.
tabula. A boy handed the letter to Al
bert Temple, night clerk. Temple
called the name out several times and
receiving no response, threw the letter
into mail bag behind the counter and
awaited the person to call for 1t.
Half an hour later, when no one
called for the missive, the clerk be
came curious and opened the envelope
He at once notified Mayor A. d
Cook and Chief of Police ]. W. Las
key. The mayor ordered all of his po
lice to institute a search for the cap
tors.
At the hour named whitla went tt
the park alone, left the package OF
bills and returned to the city, where
he established communication with his
! detectives IN Cleveland.
After five hours of anxious waiting
Whitla started for his boy. As he was
on his way policeman informed him
that three officers had been on guard
at the park, and no one had called fol
the money.
Whitla was overcome when this
news was broken to him. He went tc
the park and found his package OF
money undisturbed.