The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1909-05-18
.FORKER PLANNED CRIME,
SAYS K|DNAPER BOYLE.
It's a Lie, Declares Billie WhitIa's
Uncle at Sharon.
LIFE SENTENCES HAVE BEGUN
Statement of James HI. Boyle Accus-
ing Boys Uncle Denied-He
Never Heard of Feeble Murder
NoDealings With Convicted Man.

NoDealings With Convicted Man.
Pittsburg, Pa.-James H. Boyle be-
gan to serve sentence of life in the
Western Penitentiary for the kidnap-
Ing of Willie Whitla, of Sharon. Upon
his wife, Helen Boyle, was imposed a
twenty-five-year sentence and fine
of $4,000, together with the costs of
the trial. The court at Mercer gave
them the limit. Boyle's threat to
create a scene when sentenced did
not mature, but Immediately thereaf-
ter he gave out signed statement ac-
cusing Harry Forker, brother of
Mrs. James P. Whitla, and an uncle
Of the boy, with kidnapping. Forker
Indignantly denies the accusation,
saying, "It's a lie" Boyle's state
ment:
ION the morning of --, between
the hours of -, Dan Feeble, Jr.,
was found dead on the sidewalk in
front ef the Hauser Block, East Fed
eral street, Youngstown, Ohio, and
over the PROSTATE form was Mr..
Henry Forker, of Sharon, Pa, hold
ing in his right hand package Of
letters that was gathered from the
sidewalk near the dead body of Mr.
Feeble" the statement said in part.
In Mr.. Forker's hurry to leave the
scene he failed to find two envelopes
that contained four letters.
cat a later date Mr.. Forker was
appraised of the fact that the writer
held these letters in his possession
and asked if he could use the same
A letter was Immediately sent the
writer by Mr.. Forker, stating that
he, Mr.. Forker, would like to have a
personal talk with the writer, which
meeting took place day or so after.
Mr. Forker acknowledged he would
pay sum of money for the possess
sion of said letters.
THE amount not being considered
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..
Forker being discovered bending
over the PROSTATE form of Mr. Feeble,
had received at different times
amounts of money from Mr.. Forker
to remain silent.
About six months ago, when re-
turned to Sharon with my wife, met
Mr.. Forker on East State street and
informed him that unless I received
$4,000 between then and the time I
intended to leave Sharon would
hold the secret no longer.
'He then informed me that it was
impossible for him to get that
amount of money, but some time in
April, 1909, he was to come into pos
session of certain amount of money
and would then turn some over to
me, which was satisfactory at that
time.
"On my leaving Sharon on March
~, 1909, l proceeded to Cleveland,
Ohio, and on the same evening ad-
dressed to Forker, No. 2449 East
State street, Sharon, 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 I don't hear from you
soon there will be some exposing.
Sincerely yours.
"'J. J. BAILEY, Cleveland, Ohio
ION March 16, 1909, / received an
answer to the same, which read:
=" Friend Bailey - You knew the
circumstances and the promise made
you Wnen you lolC mere, UuI II you
are really desperately in need of mon
ey, as you profess to be, I will out
line a little plan which, with your
cooperation, can be very successfully
carried out, viz, the abduction of ].
P. Whitlas son. I can arrange to
have boy brought to Warren, Ohio,
due there at Ills, with escort.
(There is no signature to the letter.
II left Cleveland at S.15, a. M,
and arrived at Warren at 1906 a.
M, then proceeded to Niles, Ohio, by
street car. I boarded an Erie train
and arrived at Warren at Ills a. M,
but, failing to see the boy and his
escort, l got off at Warren and re-
NAMED in the vicinity of the depot"
Frank Forker and James P. Whitla
emphatically deny the statement is
sued by Boyle. Both Forker and
Whitla declare they never heard OF
Daniel Feeble, and both deny ever
having had any dealings with Boyle.
The trial Judge, the attorneys for
the defence, the District Attorney
and his assistants all discredit the
story given out by Boyle duplicating
Harry Forker in the Whitla kidnap-