Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1909-03-23
BOY RESTORED;
kIDNAPERS GET
$4,000 RANSOM
WILLIE WHITLA IS RETURNED
TO FRANTIC PARENTS
Remarkably Daring Plot Executed
Successfully in Every Detail.
Father Keeps Faith and
Is Silent
IRy Associated Press. ]

lNLEVELAND, Ohio, March 22.-Lit-
tie Willie Whitla, who has caused
~ the police of the entire country
endless worry since he was kidnapped
from school in Sharon, Pa, last Thurs
day, was returned to his father at the
Hollenden hotel here at $3.50 o'clock
this evening.
In compliance with an agreement en-
tered into with the boys father and an
agent of the kidnapers here today, the
boy was placed on a street car on the
outskirts of the city and started to the
hotel shortly after o'clock.
Two boys, G. w. Ramsey and Ed
ward Mahoney, recognized the lad on
the car, and taking him in charge, con-
Quoted him to his father, who was
waiting according to prearranged
plan which he had followed at the di-
rection of the kidnapers.
The boy wandered about the hotel
lobby unannounced for several min
utes, asking bellboys for his father, be-
fore the latter knew his son was in the
big foyer.
The moment the anxious parent heard
that a strange boy was in tae hotel he
rushed across the lobby, grasped him
in his arms and smothered his face
with kisses.
Child Is Disguised
An attempt had been made to dis
guise the lad. He wore a pair OF
smoked glasses and large tan cap
which was pulled down over his eyes,
and the father said it would have been
difficult to have recognized the boy in
such a garb had he passed him on the
street.
Willie is in perftct health. He says
he has been we'll treated and ever since
his capture has been constantly In
doors.
He believes he was taken from Shar-
on to Warren and thence to Newcastle
Pa. 1t is his opinion, exhibited in a
happy schoolboy way, that he was in
Ashtabula, on Saturday night at the
time his father was to leave $4,000 in
Flatiron park.
Whitla. sr., refuses to state whether
he has paid the ransom. He said that
he received a letter today from the
kidnapers at his home in Sharon saying
that If he called at confectionery
store in the east end of Cleveland he
would be told how to secure his boy
unharmed and "well fed"
Went Unaccompanied
Shortly after noon he left Sharon for
Cleveland He was unaccompanied.
His immediate family and private de-
tectives he apprised of the proposed se-
cret meeting, but insisted that he make
the trip alone.
Every one of them was warned that
he must be allowed to go unheeded, and
no attempt at the capture OF the kid
napers be made.
Whitla was certain if he spoiled the
plans of his sons captors tonight he
would never see the boy again. His
experience at Ashtabula served as
warning.
About Q p. m. he went to a candy
store in the east end of this city. With
him he carried the $4,000. expecting
that it would be demanded OF him
there. He was met by woman, who
detailed to him the terms of the kid
napers.
With all the eagerness of distract
ed parent Mr.. Whitla agreed to them
Immediately Detectives in his employ
say that he paid the money, but on this
point the father declines to commit
himself.
Returns and Waits
Half an hour later he returned to the
Hollenden hotel and awaited develop
ments.
His entrance to the hotel was
shrouded in secrecy. By previous ar
rangement made with the hotel man
agement he did not register, Detec-
tive c. " Perkins, who has superin-
tended the search for the boy in behalf
of the father, was in the lobby of the
to be unconcerned.
But the hearts of both parent and
Continued on Page Twol