Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1909-03-27
AUTHORITIES PERPLExED
AT DEVELOPMENT THAT HELEN
BOYLE WAS IN OHIO WHEN
BOY WAS STOLEN.
GRAND JURY HOLDS
PAIR FOR BLACKMAIL
PRISONERS WILL BE HELD ON
THIS INDICTMENT AWAITING
THEIR ExTRADITioN;, MAN IN
CASE IDENTIFIED.

Sharon, Pa, March 25.-fhe
WhitIa family today refused to be
interviewed concerning the kid
MAPPING Of Willie Whltia. They
are tired Of the great publicity
given them, since last Thursday
and want no more of It. The
legal principles Of the case are
occupying the attention Of the de-
tectIves and attorneys today. One
claim Is made the woman cannot
be brought back to Pennsylvania
to answer to the charge Of kldnap-
ing, as It Is said, she was not In
the state when the commission of
the crime occurred. The man
will be brought to. Mercer county
and tried for abduction. The
woman, it Is said, can be tried for
conspiracy and used as witness
against the man. 1t is admitted
the legal end Of the case Is COM
pIioated, but what can or cannot
be done will not be known until
several points Of the law are
looked up.
Cleveland, O., March 25.-The Guy
ahoga county grand jury has just re-
ported indictments against James H.
Boyle and Helen Boyle, alias Helen
Faulkner, charging them with black
mail The charge is based on the
payment of a $4,000 ransom by J. P.
Whitla for the recovery Of his son,
Willie.
Thomas F. Boyle of Sharon, Pa, to-
day identified the prisoners as his
brother and sister-in-law. He said he
knew but little Of the latter except
that she was his brothers wife.
Mr.. Whitla returned to Sharon to-
day. He said he would aid the Off
GERS in every way in prosecuting
Boyle. 1t is stated the prisoners will
be released to the Pennsylvania au-
thorities as soon as extradition papers
are signed.
Boy Identifies kidnapers.
Cleveland, O., March 25.-Willie
Whitla yesterday afternoon positively
identified the man and woman arrest.
ed here the night before as the ones
who were leaders in his kidnapping
from his home in Sharon. After the
Identification of the man had been
made more certain by the janitor OF
the school from which Willie was stol
en-, the boy appeared before the grand
jury to testify against the couple.
Officials in Clash.
Answering the request of the Cleve
land police Attorney Whitla accom-
panied by Mrs. Whitla, their son and
daughter, Willie and Saline, boy
schoolmate Of Willie, Harry Forker, g
brother of Mrs. Whitla. Janitor Sloss
Chief of Police Crane, Detective
KempIer, District Attorney Lininger
former District Attorney Cochran an6
Detective Ward all of Sharon, ar
rived here at l o'clock yesterday tc
identify the prisoners. Immediately
after their arrival they went to the
Hollenden hotel
Two private detectives who repre-
scented Whitla first went to the police
station in an effort to see Chief o.
Police Kohler to arrange for the iden
tification At once there was {
clash The chief would not admit the
detectives and stated that he would
have nothing to do with them ant
would deal only with Mr. Whitla ant
his son.
This was reported to Mr.. Whitls
and another dispute occurred which
promised for time to stop the identi
f1cation proceedings. Mr.. White
telephoned to the chief from the hote
that he had arrived and that he wa.
ready to see the chief. Chief Kohlel
replied holly that he was at the police
station, where the prisoners were
being held and that Whitla could SET
him there if he cared to assist in thu
prosecution of the man and woman
in custody.
Boy Taken to See Suspects.
Mr. Whitla then went to the polio,
station, but was not allowed to SCI
the prisoners himself He was in
formed by the chief that the only iden
LITIGATION he desired was that which
only the boy, Willie, could make. Tn
chief also told Mr. Whitla that if h
did not care to make the identification
| in the usual manner he could return
| to Sharon, and that the prisoner
would be prosecuted here on tn
charge Of blaekmail.
The father of the boy who was sto
en- then agreed to have Willie see tn
man and woman. An hour later, MI
and Mrs. Whitla, their children, an
Janitor Sloss appeared before tn
chief of police.
The man was the first one taken BIZ
fore them. Boyle was little pal
and nervous. There was faint smil
upon his lips. He was seated befor
| the party, which formed a semi circl