Norwich bulletin. [volume] (Norwich, Conn.) 1895-2011, 1909-05-11

turn some over to me, which was sat
isfactory at that time.
"On my leaving Sharon on March
12. 1909, 1 proceeded to Cleveland o.,
and on the same evening l addressed
to Forker. No. 2449 East State street.
Sharon, a letter which read as follows:
" Mr.. Harry Forker:
Dear SIR have decided not to
wait any longer in regard to the money
proposition and if 1 do not hear from
you soon there will be some exposing.
Sincerely yours,
al. ]. BAILEY,
Cleveland, Ohio
Forker Proposed Plan OF Abduction.
"On March 16, 1909, I received an
answer to the same which read:
"Friend Bailey:-You knew that
the circumstances and the promise /
made YOU when you left here, but If
you are really desperately in need of
money, as you profess to be- | will
outline q little plan which with your
cooperation can be very successfully
carried out, viz: The abduction Of J. p
Whitla's son. I can arrange to have
the boy brought to Warren, Ohio, due
there at 11.1S. with escort
(There is no signature to the let
ter)
Arrival of WhitIa Boy and Escort.
81 left Cleveland at SIS a. m. and
arrived at Warren at 1905 g. m, then
proceeded to Niles, Ohio, by street car
/ boarded an Erie train and arrived at
Warren at Ills a. m, but failing to
see the boy and his escort, I got off at
Warren and remained in the vicinity of
the depot.
about Ten minutes later boy and
escort arrived, and 1 was then inform
ed that they drove from Sharon to
Warren. I informed the party to take
boy to Pittsburg and Western track,
leave him there and I would attend to
res tof it, and which he proceeded to
do.
after making inquiries as to the
next train to Cleveland, brought the
bov Niles, Ohio, from there to Ash
tabula, and then to Cleveland. On
March % received a letter from Mr..
Forker stating that some one had in
formed Mr. Whitla that they had rec
ognized his boy on March 18 IN Niles,
Ohio, and that James Boyle Of Sharon
was with him; also that Mr.. Whitla
was afraid to divulge the information
for fear the boy might come to some
harm. In telling me to be careful and
be or the alert, and that when I re
ceived the money TO Immediately sur
render the Youngstown letters to send
same to him, Mr.. Forker at Sharon,
dllu OIL L uCSNty, ApIAl AOI " iOLuI il
half Of the ransom money to him, Mr..
Forker, and he would turn over the
same to the party who took Willie
Whitla to Warren.
Promise from Mr.. WhitIa.
Upon learning that my name was
mentioned in connection with the case,
] made 1t q point to meet Mr.. Whitla
personally in Cleveland at SD street
and st. Claire avenue; showed him the
letter that passed between Mr.. Forler
and myself also the Youngstown let
ters, and Mr.. Whitla promised that if
] would substantLate the truth Of the
Youngstown letters he would see there
would be no prosecution.
Boyle and His Wife Both Duped.
'T then surrendered through Mr..
Whitla all the letters that were in my
possession, and the world knows the
result. 1 was arrested and convicted
and deprived by my own counsel of
telling The story on the stand. I in
formed my wife the boy was brought
in order to escape being quarantined
in the pest house. and we were to be
handsomely rewarded for taking care
Of him.
'This unfortunate woman was duped
from start to finish in regard to the
boy, and I was duped from the moment
left the letters go into Mr.. Whitlas
possession. As my counsel afterwards
Informed me, had nothing to show or
to prove, and tIot it was a matter of
veracity-their word against mine. l
had given up every scintilla I had and
now I am settled for. This story is as
true as there is a God above u.s.
The statement is signed James
Boyle. Mercer, Pa, May 10, 1909"