Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1909-03-23

'- Y
admitted that he had paid $4,000 to the
woman in the candy store. IL. was in
currency and bills. The woman, did not
count the money. Mr.. WhitIa- believes
the woman was an Italian but he refuses
to disclose her identity. :.
He said that lie received a letter today
from the kidnappers at his home in
Sharon. saying that if he called at a con-
fectionery store in the east end of Cleve-
land he would be told how to secure his
boy unframed and we'll fed Shortly af-
ter noon he left Sharon for Cleveland.
| He was unaccompanied. His immediate
| family and the private detectives he had
in his employ had been appraised by him
| OF the proposed secret meeting but he in
| sisted that he must make the trip alone,
| unheralded and that no attempt at the
capture of the kidnappers must then be
made. Mr.. Whitla was certain that if he
| spoiled the plans of his sons abductors
tonight he would never see the lad again.
| His experience at Ashtabula served as a
warning.
| About o'clock this afternoon he went
| to candy store in the East end With
him he carried the $4,000, expecting that
| it would be demanded of him there He
! vas met by a woman who detailed to him
| the terms of the kidnappers. With dis
| tlacted eagerness MIR. Whitla agreed to
| them Immediately. Detectives in his en-
ploy say that he paid the money, but in
| this point the father declines to commit
himself. Half an hour later he returned
to the Hollnden hotel and awaited de-
velopments
His entrance to the hotel was sur
| rounded with secrecy. BY a previous
arrangement made with the hotel man
aser he did not register Detective G..
Il. Perkins. who had superintendent the
search for the boy in Mr. Whitla's be-
half, was in the lobby of the hotel. The
agent of the Wallpapers promised that
the boy would be started toward the
hotel shortly after nightfall
AS the hour for the appearance of
the Guilds return approached, Mr..
Whitlh became very nervous. He dis
regarded the advice of the detectives,
who had told him to keep out of sight
of the newspaper men and the crowds
of curious people who had learned that
he was in the city Emerging from his
room, he walked up and down The hall
on the second floor with his =. hands
clasped across his breast Then, unable
tc stand the suspense longer he went
into the lobby and seated himself in a
chair. A few newspaper men walked
over to talk to him, but he refused to
| talk.
For mere than an hour WhitIa wait
ed in the lobby, smoking black cigars
and muttering to himself. Objective
Perkins sat near him and pleaded with
him TO have patience A frienil APP
preached and Whitla walked into q Sc
! cluded corner Of the hotel and talked
with MIN '.'' '.''t.' ''''1 "1p
"It's my boy: my darling Willie"
he cried. while tears rolled down his
cheeks. He pressed the child to his
breast and Rugged him tightly
Willie smiled a little. He was glad to
see his papa, but he didn't realize what
all the fuss was about.
| When the crowd realized that the
kidnapped child had been returned to
his parents, there was a joyful demon
| stration.
As soor as he could push his way
through the crowd, Mr.. Whitla went to
his room on the second floor He car
riad the boy in his arms. For several
| minutes he was alone in the room with
his recovered son. Then through the
door came these words, spoken. by the
father to the boys mother on the long
| distance telephone:
! "Oh mother, l have Willie here in my
! arms. He is safe Glory be to God.
Mamma, it is the happiest night of my
| life
| There was pause, the mother was
pleading for her husband to return with
| the boy to his home at once. Tram sor-
ry. mother" Mr.. Whtla said. NJ can't
| get train out of here until o,slock in
| the morning. But I will come home as
! soon as possible. You can trust me with
| him, little mother, can't your
Detective Reed next answered on the
| telephone. Whitla praised him for his
work and told him of the recovery of the
child. Five minutes after the father had
entered his room fully 1000 people were
gathered in the hallway and Hobbies of
| the hotel Those who were unable to get
| into the hotel stood on the sidewalk and
| shouted for a glimpse Of the boy.
Mr.. Whitla acquiesced, and carrying the
| boy on his shoulder. walked down into
the lobby. Mounting a raised platform
Mr.. Whitla gave everyone a chance to
! see both father and son.
Mr.. Whtla received the newspaper men
| later. William told his story as best he
| could 1t was not lucid story. I'm every
way but it was romantic from his child
ish lips. He could not remember every
place he had been. but he gave -an idea
of his travels so that it will be possible
for the police to cover a part of the trail
made by the kidnappers.
| Mr.. Whitla made a substantial. gift to
Mahoney and Ramsey, who brought his
| son to the hotel.
PuNlSAARlE az AANEIMG