Norwich bulletin. [volume] (Norwich, Conn.) 1895-2011, 1909-03-22

harmed. So that there might be no
mistake. another letter it was prom
ised, would be written to Whitla un-
der the name of &C. A. White, sat
urday night. He was to receive this
letter at the Smith hotel in Ashta
bula WhitIa was instructed speci-
fically that he was to be accompanied
by no one when he went to the park
to deposit the money. Immediately on
the receipt of the letter, Whitla called
in private detectives in his employ and
asked them their advice about paying
the money.
No Deeoy Money in Package.
They were anxious to capture the
kidnappers and pleaded with him to
permit them to play a decoy package
OF bills at the designated spot and let
officers lie In wait and capture the
men who came after the money. Whitla
consented to permit the detectives to
accompany him to this city and await
his summons to start search for the
kidnappers.
Letter Addressed to C. A. White Not
Called For.
special interurban car was char
tered TO carry the searchers from
Cleveland to Ashtabula in case they
were called. G. B. Perkins of Pitts
burg, chief of the detective squad, was
placed in charge of the men. At
O'Clock Whitla left Cleveland for Ash
tabula. He was accompanied by De
tective McCabe The latter was to act
as his bodyguard, but was not to go
with Whitla 20 the park. A few min
utes after nine o'clock the kidnappers.
in keeping with their promise. sent
letter addressed TO &C. A. White" to
the Smith hotel in Ashtabula A boy,
who was unknown to any OF the clerks
at the hotel. handed the letter to Al
bert Temple. night clerk. Temple
called the name out several times and
receiving no response threw the letter
into a mailbox behind the counter and
awaited the person to call for it. Half
an hour later when no one called for
the missive. the clerk became curious
and opened the envelope.
Failing to grasp the importance of
the letter to the man to whom IL was
addressed. the clerk handed the let
ter TO a travelling man and suggested
that it might prove clue TO the kid
nappers. The latter man read it and
at once notified Mayor A. d. Cook and
Chief of Police Laskey. The mayor
ordered all of his police to institute
search for the captors.
Package Of Bills Left in Park.
Promptly at ten O'Clock Mr. WhitIa
left the package Of bills in the park
He went 10 the designated spot alone,
feeling certain that his compliance
with the request Of the kidnappers
would prove the means Of delivering
his boy to him.
Three policemen, who had been sent
out from the Ashtabula central station
saw Whitla leave the money in the
park They apprised Chief Laskey of
- dfgrnuGrN and raaafNaH i'm
tons to remain on guard at the park
and capture the kidnappers should they
appear. In the meantime Mr. Whitla
returned to the city and had establish
ed communication with his detectives
in Cleveland. They advised him not
to 60 to the hotel for his boy a min
ute before the time set He promised
anxious waiting Mr. Whitla started
after his boy. As he was on his way
a policeman informed him that three
officers had been On guard at the park
and no one had called for the money.
Whitla was overcome when this news
was broken to him. He went to the
park and found his package Of money,
undisturbed.
Story Confirmed by Detectives.
Sharon, Pa, March 2l.-Detective r.
r. Ward of Philadelphia, who was
with J. P. Whitla last night, at 11.45
tonight confirmed the Associated Press
story of the object OF their visit to
Ashtabula.
Man and Boy Detained at cuyahoga
Falls.
Cleveland March 21-A man and a
boy believed to be Willie Whitla and
one of his l1istnappers are being re-
tained by the police Of Cuyahoga Falls. I
The man claims he is from Harrisburg,
Pa.