Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1909-03-25
THE BOY IS SAFE
WILLIE WHITLA KIDNAPPED Al
SHARON, pennsylvania,
RETURNED.
II COST FATHER $4,000
The Money Was Given to a.Woman
In q Candy store and the boy
Como to The Hotel
Alone.

CLevolAno. MAT. So'-AAttlO WuuS
WhitIa, who has caused the police Of
the entire country endless worry since
he was kidnapped from school In Shar.
on. Pa, last Thursday. was returned
to his father at the Hollelden hotel
here Monday night at $50 o'clock.
In compliance with an agreement en-
tered into between the kidnapped boys
father and an agent Of the kidnAperS
here Monday the boy was placed on
q 1tfH1t oar on the outskirts OF the
city and started to the hotel shortly
after 8 O'Clock. Two boys. g. W..
ramsey and Edward Mahoney. rec
ogni1ed the lad on the car and
taking him in charge conducted him
to his father who was Ii waiting &C.
cording to a pre-arranged plan which
be had followed at the dictation Of the
kidnapers. The boy wandered about
the hotel lobby unannounced for .sever'
q minutes asking bell boys 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 saunter'
ing in aimless fashion, be rushed
across the lobby. grasped him in his
arms and smothered his face with
kisses.
An attempt had been made to dis
RutRa the lad. He wore q pair OF
smoked glasses and = large tan cap
which was pulled down over his ears
and the father said 1t would have been
difiicult to have recognized the boy in
such garb had he passed him ON the
street.
Willie is in perfect health. He says
he has been well treated and ever
since his capture has been constantly
indoors. He believes he was taken
from sharon to Warren and thence to
Newcastle, Pa. 1t Il his opinion ex'
pressed in a happy school-boy way,
that he was lii Ashtabula on Saturday
night at the time hlS father was to
leave his 10000 in FIatirOn park.
Whltla ST., refused to state whether
he had paid the ransom or not. He
said that he received o letter Monday
from the kldnapers at his home in
Sharon saying that II he called at q
confectionery store in the East end
OF Cleveland he would be told how to
secure his boy unframed and "well
fed" 49,
Shortly after noon he left Sharon for
Cleveland. He was unaccompanled.
His immediate family and the private
detectives he apprlsed Of the proposed
secret meeting but insisted that he
make the trip alone. Every one OF
them was warned that he must be al
lowed to 80 UNDECIDED and no attempt
at the capture Of the kidnapers be
made.
Whitla was certain that II he spoiled
the plans Of his sons captors Mon
day night he would never see the lad
again. His experience at Ashtabula
serving as a warning.
About two O'Clock MONDAY Afternoon
he went to candy store In the east
end. With him he carried the $4,000
expecting that It would be demanded
Of him there. He was met by wom-
an who detailed to him the terms of
the kidnapers. With all the eagerness
Of q distracted parent Whitla agreed
to them Immediately.
Sharon, Pa, Mar. 23.-The first act
Of ]. P. Whltla upon the recovery Of
his kidnapped son In Cleveland Mon
day night was to call his wife over the
long distance telephone and tell her
that Willie was safe in his arms again.
Mrs. Whitla evidently expecting the
news, did not collapse, but manifested
the most perfect seIfcontral. Not on
ly was the family oVertoyed at the re-
celpt OF the news, but the entire com
munity is sharing their happiness and
. great demonstration Is being ar
ranged for the return home of father
and son.
nauaa TnlLaA RAna Aa,,na