Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-03-22
send A FOURTH LETTER
Belief at Sharon That Lost Boy
Will Soon Be Found.
FATHER DIsMIssEs DETECTIVES
Declares he Only Wants to Pay Ran
som and Get His Child-Con-
flicting Reports Confusing.

EPt'idi DiSpattu ~ Auc StdT
SHARON, Pa, March CIT is believed
here today that as a result of the many
conferences held between detectives and
the Whitla family last night and this
morning some definite action will be taken
in the kidnapping of Willy Whitla today.
The conclusion of all is that the pretended
attempt at settlement at -Ashtabula by de-
posting $4,000 in the old cannon in the
park was merely a test of Mr.. Whitlas
sincerity in offering to pay the ransom,
and that no immediate steps will be taken
to carry it into effect. Whitla having
shown his good faith in the matter.
Conflicting statements issued by detec-
tives and Mr.. Whtla have greatly con-
fused newspaper men at work on the kid
mapping case this afternoon. According to
the detectives fourth letter had been re-
ceived from the abductors, and their cap
ture, they alleged, is only matter of
few hours
Although this statement from detectives
was made Immediately following a con-
ference with Mr.. Whitla and while the
officers We're still in Mr.. Whitla's Office.
the missing lads father the next instant
called the newspaper men into his pri-
vate Office and told them he had dis
charged all the detectives, and in the
future did not desire or want the services
of the police.
When the detectives and Mr.. Whitla
were told of the statements made by each
other apparently all were surprised.
Tells of Fourth Letter.
Detective Perkins of Pittsburg Is re-
sponsible for the assertion that a fourth
letter had been received by Mr.. Whitia
from his boys captors. The letter, he
says. is postmarked Cleveland, Ohio. He
further said a detective has been sent to
Cleveland.
In his statement NJ. Whitla says there
are absolutely no new developments in the
case All he wants, he says, is to get
into communication with the abductors,
and he had discharged all the police and
detectives in his employ. Mr.. Whitla also
conveys the information that he has Of
fered no reward. nor does he intend TO
do SO. All that he wants, he says, is the
boy. and he is willing to deal with the
kidnapers and pay the ten-thousand-dol-
lar ransom at any time. Up to / o'clock
this afternoon nothing has been heard
from the three squads of Pennsylvania
state constabulary who are engaged in
running down possible clues in this vicin-
ity and In Ohio.
Detective Perkins of Pttsburg. in
statement to the press, said:
Developments have been thick and fast
this morning. A fourth letter has been
received from the abductors. 1 cannot
give you the contents of the letter at
this time. but will say that give us
little time and we will walk the kidnap-
ers into Mr.. Whitla's Office
1t is believed here that the missing boy
will be safe in his parents home by
nightfall.
Ashtabula Affair a Test.
1t is admitted that the abductors have
taken preliminary steps to give the boy
back for the ransom of $4,000. The af-
fair at Ashtabula, Ohio. Saturday night
and early Sunday morning is believed to
have been directed by the kidnapers for
the only reason of discovering whether
Mr.. Whitla is sincere in his intention to
pay the money.
1t is the general opinion new that the
abductors had no thought of surrenderng
the lad at Ashtabua, but were endeavor-
ing to satisfy themselves that Mr.. Whitia
will secretly pay the money for the re-
turn of his boy.
1t is also believed the kidnapers will
communicate with Mr.. Whitla in the near
future for the purpose of getting the
$4,000 The attitude of Mr.. Whitla in
secretly depositing the ransom at Ashta-
bula is an evidence that all he wants is
the child and that the abductors need
fear no prosecution from him.
Mr.. Whitla admitted today the Ashta-
bula, Ohio, story is correct. He said he
had the ransom of $4,000 with him in
that city for the kidnapers. 1t was also
learned that the abductors. in their letter,
had instructed him to have the money IN
the denomination of fives, tens and
twenties.
Mr.. Whitla is near collapse now. His
wife Is bearing up we'll under the belief
that the boy will soon be returned. 1t
is believed however. that another dis
ny7fY any,$ oh hn ACh 1ryln
will cause serious consequences as far
as the boys mother Is concerned
Many Rumors Circulated.
Today rumorS OF every description are
in circulation. In fact, reports are so
numerous and are coming from such
wide territory that lis difficult to obtain
any definite idea of what developments
are new in the case
The abductors are said to he in the
vicinity of Warren, Ohio; Cleveland, Ash
tabula, Greenville, Pa: PittsbIrg, Bunalo
and half dozen small towns surrounding
this city
the kidnapers will soon be captured in
their districts.
1t is apparent a majority Of the many
officers now working on the case are
Aearching an exclusive portion of the
country hereabout, and that there is no
cooperation as to any one point
On Watch at Toledo.
TOLEDO, Ohio, March %. = Neither
Chief of Police Knapp nor Capt. of De-
tectives Jack Carew knew of any con-
centrated activity in Toledo or vicinity
relative to the report that two men and
boy had left Ashtabula Sunday bound
for this city. No local detectives have
been sent outside Of the city on the
Whtla case.
However, the entire police department
is keeping strict watch on all avenues
leading into the city.
PITTSBURG, March %. = To satisfy
themselves that Willie Whitla, the kid
mapped boy. is not in this city. the authori-
ties today are conducting thorough
search of the entire city. A number of
detectives are investigating every room
ing house in the city. Several cues have
been run down here, but nothing OF
tangible nature has been secured.
CLUE IN WASHINGTON.
Mrs, Lawrence Thinks She Saw