The Oskaloosa herald., 1909-05-13
k|DNAPERS ARE
GIVEN THE LIMIT
Boyle Is Sent To The Penitentiary
For Life.
WIFE GETS TWENTY-FIVE YEARS
Woman Must Also Pay Fine of
$5,0oo--DecIares She viii Not
Live in Prison That
Long.

mercer, Pa., May 10.-JameS II.
Boyle and his wife, Helen Anna Boyle,
were sentenced by Judge Williams in
the Mercer county court today for the
kidnapping of Willie Whitla. Boyle
was sent to the Pennsylvania state
penitentiary for life, and Mrs. Boyle
was sentenced to serve twenty-five
years and pay fine of $4,000.
These penalties are the heaviest
under the Pennsylvania law. Attor-
ney Miller pleaded for leniency, say
ing BILLY" was not harmed. Boyle
had nothing to say when asked by the
court If there was any reason why
sentence should not be passed. Mrs.
Boyle replied: mo, only didn't do it
and consider the evidence flimsy."
Mrs. Boyle was ill, and 1t was feared
she would not be able 10 go to ocurt.
Receiving the sentence she stood
stifly and waved her arms at the
guard. She seemed faint, but recov-
cred and walked to her cell where she
wept Historically.
A carefully planned scheme of
Boyle and wife to cheat justice was
frustrated today when the sheriff
found razor concealed in the lining
of Boyle's necktie. Mrs. Boyle admits
she took enough morphine last night
to kill two persons. She was not SER
iously affected, although she is i'll to-
day. The woman said when she was
convinced there was no hope, she took
the morphine and prayed to die. The
morphine was begged from woman
in the next cell who is addicted to
the habit. Boyle begged the sheriff
last night to let him visit his wife
and talk over private matters. He is
convinced Boyle intended to kill his
wife and himself with the razor.
Will Aid Her Husband.
Talking to newspaper reporters
Mrs. Boyle said: Jimmy has some
thing to say and ought not to be
gagged. i will not say anything but
Jimmy will, and l will aid him to have
his say if l can" ,-.,.-.
Seriously, want to tell you there
Is going to be double suicide. will
not spend much time in the peniten-
tiary. | have made all arrangements
and have the means now to depart
quietly and quickly. Jimmy will do
the same.
do you think I am going to the
penltentiary for many years? No sir.
When my sentence would expire
would be an old woman. would have
no friends and no money. Who wants
anything to do with an old woman? |
would rather die young.
This is my twenty-third birthday
and am not in a very poor position
to celebrate the event? | am innocent
of crime, however, and may be God in
his goodness will yet allow me to
spend many happy anniversaries.
Suicide Her Remedy.
but yet there Is the shadow of the
penitentiary and the remedy-suicide.
Il am very sincere in this matter.
Do you see that writing pad over
there on the table? Well in that will
soon write my will and last message"
Regarding the kidnapping, she says:
81 wish the penalty for kidnapping
were death. Innocent as am, would,
plead guilty if | were sure of being
put to death" -.
Following the sentencing of the alb
ductors, they probably will be taken
us soon as possible to the penitentiary.
1t is believed an appeal to the supreme
court of Pennsylvania will be taken in
the woman's case. However, she main
talns that when she realizes her case
Is hopeless. and that she Is doomed to
serve years in prison she will take her
life.
Third Person a Murderer
District Attorney J. Mede Lininger
Of Mercer county visited Boyle and his
wife in the jail to obtain further de-
tails of the sensational story which
Boyle has been attempting to make
public. According to Boyle the third
party implicated In the abduction of
Willie Whitla, who Boyle says is a
prominent Mercer county man, is
also, he alleges, connected with the
death of man at Youngstown, O., IA
years ago. .... ..-.....
Mrs. Boyle, guessing at the length
of the sentences which will be ina
posed on her and her husband. ex-
pressed the belief that she would get
about Is years, while her husband
would get about 25 years