Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-03-24
HINTS OF SCANDAL
IN K|DNAPER CASE
Entire WhitIa Family Gone to
Identity Woman Arrested
at Cleveland.
MAY BE NO PROSECUTION
Rumors Involve Sensational Incl
dents of Old Divorce Case.
DENIES THAT SHE rs RELATIVE
Woman's Companion Admits His
Identity as James Boyle,
Former Resident of
Sharon.
MAY BE NO PROSECUTION
Rumors Involve Sensational Incl
dents of Old Divorce Case.
DENIES THAT SHE IS RELATIVE

SHARON, Pa. March 24.-Secretive and
mysterious, practically the entire Whitla
family is now en- route to Cleveland for
the purpose, it is said, publicly to view
and attempt to identify the man and
woman suspects under arrest in that city
in connection with the abduction
Unoficialiy, however. sensational rumors
indicate that the woman suspect at one
time had been closely associated with
the Whita family, and it is believed a
story other than one Of kidnapping is
about to become known. 1t is said that
efforts will be made to prevent the pub
i:cation of this story, and for this rea-
son many members of the Whitla family
departed for Cleveland Unexpectedly to-
day The fact that Harry Forker and
his son, relatives of Mrs. Whitla. were
in the party was of the greatest interest
10 Sharon people who were at the rail-
road station The absence of Frank HI.
Buhl, the millionaire member of the fam
lily. was commented upon freely.
What actuated Mrs. WhitIa to go to
Cleveland with her husband and two chill
dren. Willie and Salina, cannot be stated
definitely.
Many rumors are rife this afternoon.
1t is said that incidents happening a
number OF years ago have been sudden
ly brought up by the abduction Of the
boy.
Hints Of a Scandal.
1t is alleged that divorce suit which
occurred some time ago is playing an
important part in the kidnapping case at
the present time. and that 1t is desired
to conceal details Of a scandal which
has no direct bearing upon the abduction
affair.
Departing on the 11:oe am. train for
the Ohio city were Mr.. and Mrs. Whit
Ia. their children. William and Salina:
Harry Forker and his son Henry. rela-
tives of Mrs. Whitla, and Detective
Ward of Philadelphia
Rumor has it that the woman is per-
sonally known to the entire Whitla fam
lily and efforts will be made to have
prosecution stopped.
The informations made here this morn
ing were destroyed and new information.
with abduction were substituted. The
cause of doing this is said to have been
due to mistakes made in Cleveland.
No news was given out from the Whitla
Office today previous to Mr. Whitla's de-
parture for Cleveland. The utmost Sc
crecy was observed by all concerned in
the case This attitude is probably due to
tine late developments in the case.
Names in the information.
The entire city is in an expectant atti-
tude today. The name of the suspect ed
woman is common property. and should
the Cleveland woman prove to be the one
now suspected 1t will certainly cause a
sensation.
Previous to his departure for Cleveland
today, Chief of Police Martin Grain went
before Alderman Gilbert and made in
formation against Helen Foulkner' and
James Boyle" charging them with abb
ducfion. These are. said to be the names
OF the man and woman under arrest at
Cleveland.
Later 1t was decided to take Janitor
Sloss of the school to Cleveland in an
effort to identify the man suspect. The
1dnitor talked with the man who kidna ped
Willie and will likely know whether the
one arrested at Cleveland is the same
nan who took the boy.
Since the day following the abduction
rumors have been rife that a prominent
woman who formerly lived in Sharon
might be implicated in the case. Efforts
10 locate her after the kidnapping were
futile. This woman knows all that could
be known concerning the Whitla family.
Mr.. Whitla's financial standing would
also De known to the woman within a
few dollars. and she is also acquainted
their boy.
The supposition here is that every point
or the case was arranged by the woman.
The man, OF course. stole the boy from
an was the leader 1t is said by de-
tectives today that the KIDNAPPING case
has cost Mr.. Whitia $4,000
Norwalk Woman Talks.
CLEVELAND. March 2.-Mrs Harry
Forker. wife OF a brother of Mrs. James
Il. Whitia of Sharon. was seen at her home
in Norwalk. Ohio, near here today and
when the description of the woman under
arrest In the KIDNAPPING case was told to
her she exclaimed: That's the woman
Mrs. Forker then broke down and de-
ciined 10 say anything further or explain
her remark. She would not name the
woman.
Mrs. Forker has been living i'm Norwalk
several years. She il separated from her
husband.
The woman under arrest still refuses To
give her name. but declares she Is not "A
relative OF the Whitlas as was first sus-
pected here.
1t is hrmly believed that the arrival
of Mr.. and Mrs. Wfitla and Willie here
this afternoon will clear up the identity
of the woman. She declares that her
identity not only will cause surprise
in Sharon. but that il will reveal :,
scandal involving prominent persons in
the Pennsylvania own.
Man Admits His Identity.
The male prisoner held in connection
with the kidnapping of Willie Whitla ad-
mitted his identity today 10 Chief of Po-
lice kohler. He is james Boyle of
Sharon. Pa. and is n plumber by trade
lie has a widowed mother. four broth
ers and a sister In the PENNSYLVANIA
town and his uncle. the lac John Bowie
he says. was proprietor of the Shenan-
go Hotel
Boyle declines 10 throw any additional
light on the kidnapping, but is firm i'm his
claim that the woman who was arrested
with him is his wife.
In the meantime the police await
ing the arrival of the Whitla amiIy in