The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1909-03-24
sensational
RUM0RS TODAY
IN WH|TLA CASE
Developments May Bring Out
Skeleton Hidden Many
Years in Closet
CLEVELAND POLICE HAVE
TWO SUSPECTS ARRESTED

sand Dollars SeWed on the Under.
side of Her Skirts-Admits Her Con.
nection With Crime.
Cleveland, March 24.-After cross
questioning the man and woman taken
into custody as suspects in connection
with the kidnapping of Willie Whitla
for over four hours, Chief of Police
Kohler said today he was confident
that the people were in possession Of
the lad all of the time he was absent
from home. "The woman has con-
fessed that she was in charge of the
boy" said the chief. "She says she
was in Cleveland with Willie for four
lays. They roomed in the east part
# the city" Chief of Police Grain Of
Sharon was communicated with by
Chief Kohler today. He promised to
start for this city at once and take
charge Of the suspects. They have
yignified their willingness to return
10 Pennsylvania without requisition
papers. The suspects were landed
In the police station late last night
after the man had made desperate
effort to escape from the police. He
jerked away from Captain Shattup on
the street near the police station and
ran. The captain fired two shots at
the fleeing man and the suspect, thor
ou,ghly frightened, stopped and sur
rendered. "Oh it's all off now" said
the woman as she entered the police
station door. you got us dead right.
There will be hell in Sharon when
Puhl hears of this
When the woman was searched in
the police station, $9,79O in bills of
IS, SO and $50 denominations were
found sewed carefully in the inner side
of her skirt. ALI but $40 of the money
was done up in $500 packages. This
is the shape in which Whitla drew
the money from the bank which he
paid to the kidnapers in this city.
Bills and loose change to the amount
Of $3.50 were found in the pockets
Of the man. This brought the total
amount of money which the two sus-
poets had up to s9,S4S.5O.
At first the woman refused to talk
to the police. She is said to have been
slightly intoxicated when she arrived,
and hoping that her condition might
be better later. the police locked her
up for few hours. Shortly before
daybreak Chief kohler escorted her
into his private Office and then began
grilling examination of her. She
appeared frightened when he threw
the nurses gown, which she used as a
disguise while the boy was in her
hands, over her shoulders. She was
angry, too, and attempted to pull the
chiefs hair. She became reconciled
in a few minutes and talked about the
kidnapping in commonplace manner.
That the woman is clever and of
good education was proved by her
conversation. She carefully warded
off every advance that the police made
which might cause her to answer
questions which she should not an
swer.@ She has not confessed that she
kidnapped the boy. Far from it. She
has said she was in charge Of him, but
that Ia as far.as her story goes. John
Doe," her mysterious man partner,
proved Tartar He walked into the
chiefs office cautiously. Every ques-
ton that was asked he answered
guardedly. Chief Kohler asked him
q score of questions. You tell me
the answers, first and then will tell
them back to you." answered the sus-
pect. Listen to what the woman tells
you, whatever she says goes" he re-
marked once to the police. The woman
herself said during the course of the
night, II am the kid that framed up
this Job all right" The woman is tall
and blonde. She appears to be about
rs years old. The clothes Of both
the man and the woman were new.
Several sales slips were found In their
purse showing that they had pur-
chased the clothing Tuesday.
To Identify Prisoners.
Sharon, Pa, March 24.--For the
purpose Of identifying and getting pos
session of the man and woman under
arrest at Cleveland in connection with
the Whitla kidnapping case, Chief
Grain. Detective Kempler, District At
torney Lininger and former District
Attorney Cochran started for the Ohio
city this morning.
Whitlas to Cleveland
Secretly and mysteriously. practi-
cally the entire Whitla family Is now
enroute to Cleveland for the purpose,
1t is said, of publicly viewing and at
tempting to identify the man and
woman suspects under arrest in that
city in connection with the abduc-
ton.
Cnoficially, however. some sensa-
tional rumors indicate that the woman
suspect at one time has been closely
associated with the Whitla family and
It is believed story. other than the
one of kidnapping. is about to become
known. 1t is said that efforts will be
made to prevent the publication of
this story and for this reason the
members of the Whitla family depart
cd for Cleveland unexpectedly today.
The fact that Harry Fcrker and his
son. relatives Of Mrs. Whitla. were In
the party. was of the greatest inter-