The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1909-03-27
KIDNAPPED CHILD RECOVERED.
LITTLE WILLIE wHITkA RE.
STORED TO HIS FATHER.
Tho BOY Was Well Treated by HIS
Capsors Who Promptly Restored
Him 10 His Parents When HIS
Father Compiled With the Terms.

kah1u I'd Hh9 Fnrout8 Wnon HIS
Father Compiled With the Terms.
Cleveland. Ohio. March 22.---Little
nile Whitla. who has caused the
polite OF the country endless worry
since ne was kidnapped from school
tn sharon. Pa. last Thursday. was re-
turned to his father at the Hollenden
Hote, here tonight at $3.50 O'Clock.
In compliance with an arrangement
entered into between the kidnapped
boys father and an agent of the kid
napperu here today. the boy was
PLACED on street car on the out
skirts OF the city and started to the
hotel shortly after o'clock. Two
boys q. w. Ramsey and Edward Ma
honey. recognized the lad on the car
and, taking him In charge. conducted
him 10 his father. who was in watt
ing. The boy wandered about the
hotel lobby unannounced for several
minutes. asking bell boys for his faith
or. before the latter knew his son was
In the biz foyer. The moment the
anxious parent heard that strange
boy was In the hotel no rushed across
the lobby. srs' a him in his arms
and smotherel his face with kisses.
An attempt had been made to dis
guise the lad. He wore a pair OF
smoked glasses and a large tar cap.
which was pulled down over his ears.
and the father said 1t would have ben
difncult to have recognised the boy
In such sarb had be passed him on
the street.
Wtnis n In perfect health. He says
mat he has been well treated. and
ever since his capture has been con-
stantly indoors. He believes that he
was taken from Sharon to warreQ,
and thence to New Castle. Pa. 1t "a
his opinion, expressed In happy,
sehoolboy way. that ne was in Ash
tabuia on Saturday night. at thu time
his father was to leave his $4,000
IN Flat iron Park. 4 NJ
whitla senior\ refused to state
whether he had paid the ransom OF
not. He said that ne received letter
today from tho kidnappers at his
home In Sharon. saying that II he
called At confectionery store in the
east end Of Cleveland. he would b<
told how to secure his boy unharm-
. "a. and well fed"
thortly after noon ne left Sharon
for Cleveland. He was unaccom'
panied. His immediate family and
the private detectives ne had In MS
employ ne appraised Of the proposed
secret meeting. but insisted that hi
make the trip alone. Every one Of
them was warned that he must bt
allowed to 90 unheralded and no at
tempt at the capture Of the kidnap'
psrs should be made. Whitla was Ger.
tain that n ne spoiled the plans o.
4 his sons captors tonight, he woult
never see the lad again. His expert
ence at Ashtabuls served as warn
inC.
About o'clock this afternoon. III
went to candy Atorein the East END
With him ne carried the $4,000. ex
pecting that II would be demanded o
him there. He was met by woman
who detailed to him the terms of tn
kidnappers. with all the eagernes
Of . distracted parent whitla agrees
20 them Immediately. Detectives Il
hk employ say that he paid tn
yaoney. but on this point the fathe
declines to commit himself. Half al
hour later he returned TO the Hollen
den Hotel and awaited developments
A. ne waited In the hotel lobby an
corridors whitla was In highly ner
vous condition. A few newspaper me1
walked over to talk to him. III
heavens name. men, do not say any
thing to me. am on the verge
nervous prostration." he said. II ex
pect the boy will be back tonight. bu
'.an not state positively whether h
viii he returned safe and sound. d
not AJAX me to reveal the alleged set
temert -ht might ruin all of tn
plars