The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1909-03-26
Returned in Compliance With
Agreement Between Whitla
and Abductors' Agent.
CHILD Was WELL TREATED
Father Admits Paying $4,000 for Re-
turn Of Boy-Affecting Scene
in Hotel Lobby.

CleVeland, March l. Willie
Whitla, who caused the police OF the
entire country worry since he was
kidnapped from school in Sharon last
Thursday, was returned to his father
at the Hollenden hotel here last night
at $50 o'clock. In compliance with
an agreement entered into between
the kidnapped boys father and an
agent of the kidnappers here yester-
day, the boy was placed on a street
car on the outskirts OF the city and
started to the hotel shortly after 8
o'clock. Two boys, G. w. Ramsey
and Edward Mahoney, recognized the
lad on the car and taking him in
charge conducted him to his father,
who was in waiting, according to a
p~rearranged plan which he had fol-
lowed at the dictation of the kidnap-
pers.
Smothered With Kisses.
The boy wandered about the hotel
lobby unannounced for several min
utes, asking bellboys for his father,
before the latter knew his son was
in the big foyer. The moment the
anxious parent heard that a strange
boy was in the hotel, sauntering in
aimless fashion, he rushed across the
lobby grasped him in his arms and
smothered his face with kisses.
Willie is in perfect health. He says
that he has been well treated, and
rel since his capture has been con-
stantly indoors. He believes he was
taken from Sharon to Warren and
thence to Newcastle, Pa. 1t is his
boy way, that he was in Ashtabula on
Saturday night at the time his father
was to leave his &c. 900 in Flatiron
Park.
Paid $4,000 Ransom.
Whitla senior said last evening
that he paid $4,000 to the m in
the candy store. He said that he re-
ceived a letter yesterday from the
~kidnappers at his home in Sharon,
saying that if he called at a confec-
tionery store in the East end of
Cleveland he would be told how to
secure his boy unframed and well
fed"
Shortly after noon he left Sharon
for Cleveland. He was unaccompa-
MED. About 2 o'clock he went to the
candy store and made the arrange
ments which resulted in the boy be-
ing sent to the hotel.
When the frenzied father discover
ed the boy in the crowded lobby
he lifted him into his arms and plant
ed a score of kisses on his lips.
ITS my boy-my darling Willie!"
he cried
Crowd Cheers Wildly.
When the crowd that filed the lob
by realized that the kidnapped child
had been restored to its parent cheer
after cheer rang out. So enthusiastic
were the people that Whitla was
obliged to make a short speech. He
thanked the press. the police and the
people for the interest and assistance
given him in the search for the boy.
AS soon as Whitla could push his
way through the crowd he retired to
liS IOOlu, WASIS liz SttllCu w llc
child's mother on the ng-distance
telephone and notified her of the re-
covery of the boy. Whitla and his
son will return to Sharon on the
morning train.
Neighbors Plan Celebration.
Sharon, Pa, March 24.-The first
act of ]. P. Whitla upon the recovery
of his kidnapped son in Cleveland
last night vas to call his wife over
the long-distance telephone and tell
her that Willie was safe in his arms
again. Mrs. Whitla, evidently expect
ing the news, did not collapse, but
manifested the most perfect control.
Not only was the family overjoyed at
the receipt of the news, but the entire
community seems to be sharing their
happiness with them, and a great
demonstration Is being arranged for
the return home of father and son,
which is now expected at 1926
o'clock today.
Detective Ward stated that the
search for the abductor and his con-
federates would now be taken up in
earnest.