The Detroit times., 1909-05-06
BOYLE IS GUILTY
OF K|ONAP ING
WH|TLA BOY
Jury Is Out Forty-Fve Minutes in
Famous Case-Penalty for Crime
Is Imprisonment From One
Year to Life.
Work of Selecting Jury in Mrs.
Boyle's Case Is Begun
at Once.

MERCER, Pa, May 6.-James H..
Boyle was found guilty OF kidnapping
Billy Whitla this afternoon after a
trial that occupied only three and a
aalf hours OF actual work. The jury
was out 40 minutes. The penalty is
Imprisonment from one year TO life.
Before the jury reported and while the
prisoner was still in the courtroom.
Mrs. Boyle was brought into court and
the work OF selecting jury In her
case began.
The KIDNAPPED boy was the first wit.
ness called by the prosecution as soon
as Attorney j. c. Cochran, who is en-
ployed by Mr.. Whitla to assist tho
county. finished outlining the case. Mr.
Cochran said that the prosecution
would rest its case mainly on the boys
own story.
Billy told the story well. He said
that one day In March he was taken
from school by man who called for
him.
do you see that man now?" he was
asked.
YES" said Billy. There he is
now" He pointed to Boyle, across the
table. He grinned at Boyle and the
prisoner grinned back. He wore
come kind of whiskers on the bottom
Of his face that day" the coy went on.
Billy made an excellent witness. His
opening statement showed that he APP
preciated the nature OF an oath and
his testimony straight through was
clear and To the point. He described
his trip TO Cleveland with the kid
Eaper and his Imprisonment in a room
at the Granger apartment. The events
of the night of Monday. March %.
when he was found, he related as fol-
lows:
Mr.. Jones 1.-THE kidnaper's alias
took me out. He gave me a note. He
said 10 remember IL / could and II
couldn't TO give the note TO the con-
ductor. | was TO tell the conductor TO
let me off at the Hollenden. We walk
cd about a mile and then we took
car. But Mr. Jones didn't walk with
me all the way. Most OF the time he
walked across the street. When l got
on the car he sneaked.'
did you give the note TO the con-
ductor?" asked the attorney.
IF did you wouldn't have II now.
would you?" asked Billy innocently
aaeE.he= courtroom s=-
After the hoy had identified letters
he wrote at the Granger to his father
and mother and Uncle Bull he was
turned over to Boyles attorney for
cross-examination. Attorney Miller
for Boyle limited his examination TO a
few questions about the "Whiskers on
the bottom OF Jones face"
Did you see him take them off?"
be asked.
Yes"
h.
HE said all men could take theirs
on"
Are you quite sure the man who
wore the mustache is the same one
who took you on to Cleveland?'
yes"
Charles Flowers OF Sharon told or
meeting Boyle in front OF the Whitla
house Just before dark the night be-
lore the kidnapping.
Verne Smith, OF Sharon, told OF
seeing Billy Whitla in a buggy with
a man the morning Billy was kidnap-
ed. He recognized the man as Boyle
whom he had seen few days before.
He said he had known Boyle when he
lived In Sharon IL years before.
Smith said Boyle wore a black mus
sache while in the buggy.
II wasn't positive of the Identified
ton that day because OF the black
mustache," said Smith. when Boyle
was brought back to Sharon under ar
rest, made certain
Smith was asked on cross examina-
ton why he did not notify Mr.. Whit
la He said it was because he didn't
want to mix up in II.
"You knew" Smith was asked,
How worried Billys parents were
and you told them nothing"
IL kept quiet" said Smith.