The San Francisco call., 1909-03-25
WILLIE WH|TLA
IDENTIFIES HIS
TWO KIDNAPERS
Child Says Boyle Removed His
Mustache After Taking
Captive TO Cleveland
Woman Promises Sensation, but
Fails TO Recognize Any
Person Except Boy

- -SA - p S
CLEVELAND. O., March 24.-Willie
whitla today identified the man and
woman held on suspicion by the
Cleveland police as the persons who
kidnapped him from the school at
sharon, Pa. last Thursday and held
him for $4,000 ransom, which was
paid by his father Monday.
Willie said that the man. who gave
The name OF James II. Boyle. was the
one who took him from school and car
ried him to Cleveland.
Boyle said the woman was his wife.
The police have no other identification
Of the couple than the names given.
So far as the man is concerned the po-
lice believe the name is correct. Boyle
is said TO reside in Sharon and is a
plumber by trade. He is said TO have a
widowed mother, four brothers and a
sister.
WOMAN PROMISES SENSATION
The woman said that her identified
tiOl would cause a sensation in sharon
WhitIa would say nothing regarding
the woman. He said he knew Boyle
slightly
After Willie had seen the prisoners
they were taken TO the county court
house and there appeared before the
grand jury They We're examined in an
attempt to find indictments
A woman known as Mary Diener. the
police say, who may have been an asso-
ciate Of the kidnapers. committed sui
eide today by drinking morphine while
standing in front Of q drug store in the
east end. not far from the house in
which Willie Whitla was detained here
Attorney Whitla. accompanied by
Mrs WhitIa. and their son, arrived here
at I o'clock today.
PRIVATE DETECTIVES BARRED
TWO private detectives. who repre-
sented Whitla, first went TO the police
station in an effort to see Chief Of Po-
lice Kohler. but the latter said he
would not have anything to do with
them.
Whitla then went TO the police sta
tion, hut was not allowed 10 see the
prisoners. The chief told Whitla that
il he did not care 10 make the identifi-
cation in the usual manner he could re-
turn TO Sharon and that the prisoners
would be prosecuted here on the charge
Of blackmail
Whitla then agreed to have Willie
see the woman and the man. An hour
later Mr.. and Mrs Whitla and their
children appeared
The man was the first one taken be-
fore them. Boyle was a little pale and
nervous. There was a faint smile upon
his lips He was seated before the
party. which formed semicircle in
front OF him.
WILLIE IDENTIFIES BOYLE
Chief Kohler asked Willie II he had
ever seen the man before.
sure" said Willie, brightly Why
that is the man left Sharon with. He
took me 10 Cleveland, then to Ashta
bula and back 10 Cleveland. He had
a mustache when I first saw him at
the schoolhouse. but he must have cut
II of later. This is the way he looked
when ] last saw him in Cleveland"
When the woman was brought in she
was defiant and naughty in her de-
meanor- her only relapse from the in
dignant manner was when she first saw
Willie. The woman smiled.
While walked up TO her and, extend
ing his hands. said; How do you do2"
Hello. Willie" the woman replied
as she placed her hand upon his head
and caressed him for an instant
WOMAN ACTED As NURSE
The boy then stepped back TO his
father and was asked several questions
by the chief OF police.
yes I know her" he said she was
The nurse who took care OF me in
Cleveland She told me I was sick and
in a hospital I saw her a whole lot
as she was with me most all Of the
time"
Notwithstanding the woman's asser-
tfon that there would be a sensation
when she was identified or when
Whitla saw her, she and Whitla looked
at each other without outward evil
dence Of recognition
County Prosecutor Cline said that
while he could not say what the grand
jury would do. the man and woman
could be held in Ohio on the charge of
blackmail