The Topeka state journal., 1909-03-22
POLICE BUTTED IN.
Return of Kidnapped Boy to
His Parents.

Cleveland. Ohio, March 22.-The full
story of the frustrated attempt to pay
over $4,000 in ransom for the return OF
Willie Whitla has became known ]. P.
Whitla the father was instructed in a.
letter from the kidnapers to leave the
money in Flatiron park Saturday
night. II no detectives were about. the
kidnapers promised they would secure
the money and deliver the boy safely
to the father in a hotel at Ashtabula
at o'clock Sunday morning. Whitla
deposited the money as requested but
the Ashtabula police learned of the
plans to pay the ransom, and went to
the park The kidnapers are supposed
to have seen them for at 6 o'clock, the
money was intact and not man had
approached the spot.
Whitla had a score of detectives and
twenty-three members of the Pennsyl-
vania state constabulary in readiness
in this city to start a search for the
kidnapers as soon as he had safely Sc
cured the boy. Whitla believed that
the failure to effect a settlement with
him will frighten the kidnapers and
they will not communicate with him
again.
Letter of Instruction.
The letter from the captors of Willie
came to the boys parents in Sharon,
Pa, Friday afternoon. Instructions
were given him to go alone to Ashta-
bula on Saturday night and place the
$4,000 under rock at the base of a
At o'clock on the following morn
ing if the money was obtained by the
kidnapers they promised that the
stolen boy would be sent to the Smith
hotel in Ashtabula unframed. Whitla
was instructed specifically that he was
to be accompanied by no one when he
went to deposit the money.
Immediately upon the receipt of the
letter Whitla called in private detec-
tives in his employ. They wanted to
place decoy package of bills at the
designated spot. but Whitla would not
agree to this. He finally consented to
permit the detectives to accompany
him to this city and await his sum-
mons to start a search for the kidnap-
erS.
\ Second Letter.
At o'clock Whitla left Cleveland
for Ashtabula. He was accompanied
by Detective McCabe. The latter was
to act as his body guard. but he was
not to GO with Whitla to the park.
A few minutes after 9 o'clock the kid
napers IN keeping with their promise
in their first letter sent a second letter
address to &C A. White" to the Smith
hotel in Ashtabula.
Half an hour later, when no one
called for the missive the clerk became
curious and opened the envelope and
Mayor Cook and Chief of Police Las
key were appriSed of it's contents.
The mayor ordered all of his police to
Institute search for the captors.
promptly at O'CLOCK Whltla left the
package of bills in the park. He went
to the designated spot alone feeling
certain that his compliance with the
request of the kidnapers would prove
the means of delivering his boy back to
him.
Policemen Saw Him.
Three policemen, who had been sent
out from the Ashtabula central sta
ton saw Whitla leave the money in the
park. They told Chief Laskey of their
discovery and received instructions tn
remain on guard at the park and cap
ture the kidnapers should they appear.
In the meantime Whitla returned to
the city and had established communi-
ton with his detectives in Cleveland.
They advised him to go to the hotel for
his boy exactly at the time set He
promised to observe orders.
Five hours later Whitla started after
his boy. On the way policeman in
formed him that three officers had
been on guard at the park and no one
had called for the money. Whitla was
overcome at this news He went to
the park ard found his package of
money undisturbed-
During the remainder of the night
and all day Sunday the officers in vain
searched the country around Ashta-
bula.
whitla came to Cleveland and later
returned to Sharon.