Kingsbury County independent. (DeSmet, Kingsbury County, S.D.) 1894-1929, 1909-04-02
DRAMATIC STORY OF BOYS
RETURN BY THE kIDNAPERS

Cleveland, Ohio, March 25.-Little
Willie Whitla, who has caused the po-
lice Of the entire country endless worry
since he was kidnapped from school in
Sharon last Thursday. was returned
TO his father at the Hollenden hotel
here at $3.50 o'clock last night. In com
pliance with an agreement entered into
between the kidnapped boys father and
an agent Of the k~idnapers here the boy
was placed on the street car on the
outskirts OF the city and started to the
hotel shortly after s o'clock. Two boys,
G.. w. Ramsey n Edward Mahoney.
recognized the latter on the car, and
taking him in charge conducted him
to his father, who was In waiting. ac-
cording to a prearranged plan which he
had followed at the dictation of the
~kidnapers. The boy wandered about
the hotel lobby unannounced for sew
eral minutes, asking bellboys for his
father before the latter knew his son
was In the big foyer. The moment that
the anxious parent heard that a strange
| boy was in the hotel ~sauntering In aim
less fashion he rushed across the lobby,
grasped him in his arms and smothered
his face with kisses.
An attempt had been made to dis
guise the lad. He wore a pair OF
smoked glasses and a large tan cap.
which was pulled down over his ears,
and the father said ii would have been
difficult to have recognized the boy in
such a garb had he passed him on the
street.
Willie Is in perfect health. He says
he has been we'll treated and ever
| since his capture has been constantly
indoors. He believes he was taken
from Sharon to Warren n thence to
New Castle, Pa. In his opinion. ex-
pressed in a happy ~schoolboy way. that
he was In Ashtabula on Saturday night
| at the time his father was to leave his
$40, 900 In Flatiron park.
Shortly after noon Mr.. Whitia left
sharon for Cleveland. He was unac-
| companied. His immediate family and
the private detectives he apprised of
the proposed secret meeting, but in
sisted that he make the trip alone.
Every one of them was warned that he
must be allowed to go unheeded and
no attempt at the capture OF the kid
napers be made.
J Whitla was certain that IL he spoiled
the plans of his sons captors last night
he would never see the lad again. His
experience at Ashtabula served as a
warning. About 2 o'clock in the after
noon he went to a candy store In the
east end. With him he carried the
$40, 600. expecting that II would be de-
manded of him there. He was met by
"a "a Al a !" AhAAt ~
terms Of the k~idnapers. With all the
e~agerness OF a distracted parent Whitla
agreed to them Immediately. Half an
hour later he returned to the Hollenden
and waited developments.
Back to Hotel.
His entrance to the hotel was
shrouded in secrecy. BY a previous
arrangement made with the hotel
management he did not register. De-
tective G.. p. Perkins, who a super
intended the search for the boy, was
In the lobby calmly smoking and pre-
tending to be unconcerned, but the
hearts of both parent and detective
were beating ~anxiously. The agent OF
the kidnapers promised that the boy
would be started toward the hotel
shortly after nightfall. AS h hour
OF the appearance of the child APP
preached, Whitla became nervous. He
disregarded the advice OF the detective
to keep out of sight of the newspaper