Elk City mining news. (Elk City, Idaho) 1903-1913, 1909-04-03
FOR RETURN OF YOUNG WHITLA
OF SHARON, PA.
When Father of Boy Left the Money at
the Place Named by the Kidnapers
They Failed to Get 1t and Kept the
Boy-Police Spoil Their Plan-One
Suspect Arrested.

Cleveland, ONO, March ~. - The
whole story of the frustrated attempt
to pay over $4,000 in ransome for the
return of Willie Whitla, the lad stolen
from the schoolyard at Sharon, Pa, re-
Gently, has become known. J. p. Whit
la. the father, was instructed in letter
from the kidnapers TO leave the money
in park Saturday night. If no de
tectives were about the kidnapers prom
Used they would secure the money and
deliver the boy safely TO the father in
hotel at Ashtabula at clock Sun
day morning.
Whitla deposited the money as re
quested, but the Ashtabula police
learned of the plans to pay the ransom
and went to the park. The kidnapers
are supposed TO have seen them, for at
6 clock the money was intact and not
a man had appeared at the spot where
it was left.
Whitla had a score of detectives and
30 members of the Pennsylvania con
stabulary in readiness in this city TO
start search for the kidnapers as soon
as he had recovered the boy.
Money Under Rock in a Gorge.
The letter from the captors Of Willie
came to the boys parents in Sharon
Pa, on Friday. Instructions were given
Whitla TO go alone to Ashtabula Sat
urday night and place the $4,000 at
0 clock under a rock at the base of Il
gorge in the park. If the money was
obtained by the kidnapers they prom
ised the stolen boy would be sent TO the
Smith hotel in Ashtabula unframed al
0 clock the following morning. Whitla
was instructed specifically that he was
TO be accompanied by no one when he
went 10 deposit the money.
Immediately on receipt Of the letter
Whitla called in private detectives IN
his employ. They wanted 10 place a de.
coy package Of bills at the designated
spot, but Whitla would not agree 10 this.
He finally consented 10 permit the de.
tectiyes 70 accompany him 10 this city
and await his summons 10 begin a
search I0r the kidnapers
Whitla left Cleveland for Ashtabula
al = o clock. lie was accompanied by
Detective MeCabe. The latter was 10
act as bis bodyguard, but WAS not 10 b
with Whitla 10 the park
in keeping with their promise Ia their
FIRST letter, the kidnapers sent a second
letter few minutes after clock
addressed to a. a. White, care 81 The
Smith hotel, Ashtabula.
When no ono called for The missiye
hair nn hour later Che clerk bocame
curious and opened fhe envelope and
Mayor rook aud Chief I.aakey nere ap.
prised ~ ~ contents. The mayor 81
aered mi ~ hia police ~ institute
search for fho capior
Hlifla lefi tle package of biz iu fhe
parf promptly AZ q Clock ~ wont
~ ihe Designated apoi alone, feeling ed
Gam ihaf hlf compliance sitl tle ~
guest NJ ihe kldnaper Nould Prove ~
moane NJ delll9|ng hlr BOY lael NJ hlu
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sar VINO loHf0 iAo money w iAr parf
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~ hno leenfeo DISTINCTIONS N lomau
RI fsAie AZ az paf6 and eapisf ile
I4nlHlH
hlIHa lad established communion
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