New-York tribune., 1909-03-19
HUNT KIDNAPPED BOY
RANSOM OF $1,000 ASKED.
Pennsylvania Constabulary Out
May Be Black Hand Plot.

Sharon. Penn. March 1s.-Ten thousand DOL
lars ransom is demanded for the return OF VIII
lam whitla James P whitla's eIght-year-old
son. who was spirited away from school here
this morning by an unknown man. thought By
some to be an Italian Accornp snyins the d.
rnand for ransom is covert threat that the boy
WILL be killed unless the money is produced
Hundreds OF dispatches and telephone mes-
saxes have been sent TO the police or various
cities asking their assistance The first fruit Of
these came tonight. when chief Of Police Grain
Of this city received word that the rig in which
the lad was taken away had been recovered a.
Warren. Ohio. with the childs hat on the buggy
seat
Mr.. and Mrs whitla ara among the towns
leading residents The former is atto-ney.
politician and brother-in-law of Frank H Buhl.
the nultimilhonaire steel man.
Al 8 30 o'clock this morning stranger drove
up 20 the east ward schoolhouss. where young
whitla Is pupil in room , and told the tanito-.
Wesley Sloss, that the lad wanted at once
at his fathers Office. Sloss conveyed the res
sage to Mrs Anna Lewis. this boys teacher. vho
dismissed ths child. As she was helping him
put on his overeoat she remarked. half jol<ingly.
7 hope that man does not kidnap WiIs-' The
man in the buggy had a dark complexion. DARK
hair and a stubby nustache He was stoekily
built. He spoke excellent English. and II an
Italian as thought by some, was evidently
American born.
When sIoss appeared with the boy the stran-
ger smiled and helped him up TO the seat beside
him. He then drove of in the direction Of Nh
Whitla's once. Several persons tonight Say
confederate joined the kidnappsr befors he lsft
the town.
Little was thought Of the incident. and thers
vas no belief that crime had been committed
until the lad failed appear for his MONDAY
meal Becoming worried. Mrs Whitla began
search. At the school she learned OF what had
occurred there three hours before Terrified.
Mrs Whitla conferred with J. A. McLaughrsy.
a friend of the family. The latter telephonsd to
Mr. whitIa who had gone to New wilmington
on business Mr. whitla gave hasty directions
as TO what steps 10 take Immediately IN an e.
fort TO recover his son, and late this afternoon
arrived in person.
AT / O'Clock a letter addressed to the mother
was delivered at the house by q mail carrier
Mrs Whitla at once recognized the handwrtt-
ing on the envelope as that OF her SON. Opsn-
ing II. she found the following communication
written in strange hand:
We have your boy. and VIII return him tcr
$1,000 Will see your advertisement in ths
papers Insert in The Indianapolis News. TAs
Cleveland Press The Pittsburg Dispatch ard
The Youngstown viudicator.' A A viii %
as requested j. P. W. Dead boys ara aos
desirab BILE"
The penmanship and spelling OF the note M
dicated IL had been written by n man OF rair
education. Mr.. whitla decided 70 comply Win
the conditions OF the letter. and sent for publ
cation TO each of the newspapers specified ths
note II directed him TO insert.
Harrisburg Penn. March 1S-The stats
Police Department late this afternoon received
a telephons message OF the Kidnapping or tna
son OF James Whitla. at sharon. and at once
ordered details Of men from the troops 81
Punxsutawney and Greensburg to Mercer ana
Lawrence counties.
Warren. Ohio March 1S.-A man said 20 an
swer to the description Of the one wanted az =
Sharon. Penn. for kidnapping little William
Whita arrested here tonight. The Janltor
of the Sharon school will arrive here tomorrow
to see if he identify him.
Cleveland. March 1S.-Clsveland police vere
advised tonight that two men and boy. the
latter answering descriptions OF Willie WhitA
were seen in Warren. Ohio. late this afternoon.
and that the party was bound for Cleveland a
incoming trains and interurban cars
a N n zzzA