Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1909-04-03
CLEVELAND POLICE
CAPTUR KIDNAPEKS


woman reveal his or her name were
useless. The woman said when her
identity became known 1t would show
che was of good family. The man
said his name was John Doe the
woman claimed they were man and
wife. They have signified their will
lngncss to return to Pennsylvania
without requisition papers.
Mr.. and Mrs. Whitla, their son and
daughter, together with Harry Forker,
brother of Mrs. Whita. all of Sharon.
arrived here this afternoon.
| AT nrSt, the woman refused to talk
to the police. She Is said to have been
| slightly intoxicated when arrested.
Hoping her condition might be better
later, the police locked her up for a
few hours. Shortly after daybreak,
Chief Kohler escorted her into his pri-
vate office and began grilling exam
ination. She appeared frightened when
he threw nurses gown over heI
shoulders. She was angry, too. and at.
tempted to pull the chiefs hair. Sht
became reconciled in a few minute,
and talked about the kidnapping in com
monplace manner.
Il used to get the newspapers every
day." she said. My. l had a lot of fun
reading the prophesies OF different
sleuths and near sleuths. There were
a lot OF things charged up to the folks
who had the boy that were not true"
| That the woman is clever and Of good
education was proved by her conversa-
,:on. She carefully warded off every
advance that the police made which
might have caused her TO answer ques-
| tions which she should not have an
| swered. She has not confessed she kid
naped the boy-far from it-she has
said she was in charge of him, but that
is as far as her story goes.
John Doe" a Tartar.
John Doe" her mysterious partner,
proved a tartar. Every question he
was asked he answered guardedly and
but little OF value was obtained from
him.
Chief Kohler asked him about him
self, his name and other questions.
You tell me the answers first and
then I'll tell them back to you. Listen
TO what the woman tells you. What
ever she says goes" Doe told the chief
The woman said during the night:
Il am the kid that framed up this
Job, all right"
Since the day following the abduc-
ton, rumors have been rife that a
prominent woman, who formerly lived
In sharon, might be implicated in the
case. Efforts to locate her after the
kidnapping were futile. This woman
knows all that could be known con-
cerning the Whitla family.
Mr. Whitlas financial standing would
"e known to the woman within a few
dollars. She also was acquainted with
the great love OF the parents for the
child. The supposition here Is every
point of the case was arranged by the
woman. The man. of course. stole the
boy from the school, but outside this
the woman was the leader.
1t is said by detectives today the kid
naping case has cost the Whitla family
S20, 900.
Woman Admits Guilt.
When arrested last night the woman
who was somewhat confused admitted
that she had been responsible for the kid
naping. When placed In custody in the
central police station she said to Captain
Shattuck II am the one who planned
the whole thing. There will be trouble
for me and hell in Sharon tomorrow"
Beneath the woman's skirt was found
50, 790 All of 1t but $40 was bound In pack
ages with the original slips placed on the
money when Whitla took IL from the bank
still around it,
Captain Norman Shattuck and Detective
Frank Wood made the arrests in the east
end OF the city. When near the police
station the man broke away from Detec-
tive Wood and ran towards an alley The
policeman fired two shots from his re-
volved into the air and the man stopped.
The woman made no attempt to escape.
They Were Drunk.
The woman appears to be well educated
and is refined in manners. She says she
spent 10 years of her life In a convent in
but denies that she has ever
been in trouble before. Both the man and
the woman deny that they know the name
of each other. They admit they are not
man and wife. According to the police
they were intoxicated when placed in
custody. Due to their condition they were
not questioned closely by the police and
were locked in their cells.
Captain Shattuck is said to have secured
his description of the kidnapers from
Willie Whitla
Willie Whitla told Captain Shattuck on
Monday that the woman who kept him
a prisoner had smallpox scars on her face.
The woman in custody has red spots on
her cheeks and appears to have had
smallpox. She is a tall blonde, probably
% years old. She was dressed in black
silk skirt, a gray coat and black hat. The
man is dark and smooth faced.
Yesterday detectives heard that a man
and woman answering the description OF
the kidnapers had been seen on the out
skirts OF the city. They came down town
and bought articles Of clothing, rendering |
IS and $40 bills in payment, IT was learned |
Later a report came that the people had |
left package in downtown store which |
proved to consist of discarded clothing.
Captain Shattuck and Detective Wood |
trailed the man and woman around the |
business districts of the city for several |
hours during the afternoon but delayed |
taking them into custody. Shortly after |
nightfall the police learned that the tworI
had gone to the east end of the city. The |
police walked up behind the pair and Cap |
tain Shattuck took the woman by the arm. |
Detective Wood seized the man. The |
couple staggered, say the police, as If |
hey were intoxicated They made no pro- |
est against accompanying the officers
rhe man was downcast and would not |
alk The woman chatted with the police |
man at her side at first and asked to be |
released.
1t was then she admitted she had |
planned the kidnapping. In the meantime |
he man attempted to escape and the re- |
Solver shots of Captain ShattuclI brought |
him to a standstill. Whitla says he has |
he number of the currency bills handed |
he kidnapers, and the police are compar- |
ng the notes found in the possession of |
he prisoners with the memoranda of |
Whitla.
Willie Whitlas place of captivity |
while he was in Cleveland was an old |
abandoned residence on |
Prospect avenue, S. e. The man and |
the woman ate most of their meals at |
he residence of the Hotel Thorpe, |
across the street from the old resi- |
ience. This enabled them to return to |
he captive without leaving him alone |
Ong.
About five days ago" said Thomas |
e. Thorpe. proprietor of the hotel to- |
lay, "a man and a woman began com
ng to the hotel for their meals. l |
know now they resembled descriptions |
have read of the kidnapers. Neither |
'ffered any information concerning |
heir business"
conrCco