The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1909-03-23
JUNK DEALER IS IN
JAIL FOR WH|TLA
KIDNAPPING
I'LL III - ---~
DETECTIVE SAYS he HAS
STRUCK TRAIL OF AsDucToRo
boy RETURNED TO FATHER
AFTER $4,000 is PAID. -.

SHARON, Pa, March 23.--Thou-
sands welcomed Willie Whttla
when he returned here with his
father today. II 10 reported here
that Joseph Wess, arrested last
night In Youngstown, has been re-
leased, but is still under surveii.
lance and the boy 10 yet to be
given a chance to look at him.
Detective Wards men are work.
ing In Cleveland today In their
hunt for the kldnapers. =. n.
Bull, the boys rich uncle, declared
today that he would spend $780,
600 to Pun down the sidnapers. He
will preside at q conference In
Whitia's home this afternoon at
which plans to capture the alb
ductors will be made.
CLEVELAND. o., March 23.-A
junk dealer who formerly lived In
Sharon, was arrested in Cleveland TO
day on suspicion Of having been one
of the kidnapers OF Willie Whitla, the
eight-year-old boy who was recovered
after his father had paid ransom OF
$4,000.
When he learned that the man was
in custody, Detective Perkins declared
he had struck the trail of the abduc
tors and that more arrests would be
made.
The $4,000 with which James p.
Whitla ransomed his son, Billy. was
paid over by Whitla to the kidnapers
in the grocery, confectionery and sta
Al - f,.C 10 rot
No 1883 East Fifty-third-st. Mrs,
Hendrickson. daughter OF Mrs. Uhle.
was in charge OF the store. She said:
About l o'clock Monday a we'll
dressed man (Whitla) called and say
ing his name was Williams, said he
desired TO leave a package for a man
named Hayes.
about o'clock a man who said
his name was Hayes and who seemed
to me TO be a well-dressed working
man about 40 years old, stout and not
out of the ordinary. called and asked
tif a package had been left sor him.
Yes answered, and said, 'Yolr
friend just left He smiled and with
out further conversation took the
package, which lay ON the cigar coun-
ter and walked out. Gee, wish had
known sighed Mrs. Hendrlckson.
1t cost j. P. Whitla, the attorney Of
Sharon, $4,000 to recover his 8-year-
old son, Willie. Mr.. Whitla admitted
that he had paid the ransom In cur
rency He left il in a package with
woman in candy store who delfv-
cred il TO the abductor of the Whitla
boy. The woman did not count the
money. and Mr.. Whitla is convinced
that she is not connected with the
kidnapping, acting merely In accord
ance with the request OF stranger
who gave his name as MIR. Hayes"
and asked her to receive the package
TO lie delivered by man named VIII
liams (Mr. Whitla). Mr.. Hayes"
called later and secured the package.
Willie Whitla walked into the Hol-
lenden hotel last night at $3.50 o'clock.
His distracted father had waited a
long time. Two boys, Edward Ma
honey and G.. w. Ramsey, recognized
the lad on tire street car and, taking
him in charge. conducted him to. the
hotel The boy wandered around tbs
hotel corridor for several minutes,
asking the hotel attaches for his
father. The parent, as soon as he
heard there was strange boy in tho
hotel. rushed across the lobby, grasped
his son in his arms and smothered his
face with kisses. The lad wore pair
OF smoked glasses and large tan cap,
which was pulled down over his ears.
The father admitted 1t would be diff
ficult to recognize his son at dis
lance.
Boy In Perfect Health.
Willie is in perfect health. He was
we'll treated by his abductor. he said
When he left Sharon, he believes. he
was taken TO Warren in The buggy,
which was abandoned there. and
thence to New Castle, Pa.
The letter which resulted III the re-
covery OF his son was received by Mr..
Whitla in Sharon at noon yesterday.
The father left Sharon unaccompanied
shortly after he received the letter.
He insisted that no detectives accom-.
many him. He feared II he spoiled
the plans for his sons recovery last
night he would never see him again.
Arriving in Cleveland. he went TO a
candy store, the location OF which
was not given last night. The father
fCoufIuued on Pnge FourD