Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1909-05-11
Kidnaper Condemned to Life
in Prison Makes Long Threat
ened Exposure Of Alleged Ac-
completes.
SAYS WHITLA PROMISED
TO PROTECT HIM IN COURT
Strange Tale Of Murder in
Youngstown and Extortion
Large Sums of Money From
Alleged Murderer,


Mercer Pa, May Ia Before nc
was taken from here to the penltcn-
tiary at Pttsburg today to begin a
life sentence, James Bowie. made the
statement which both ne and his
wife have been threatening, and which
they said would shake the country"
the complete history of the kidnapping
OF Willie Whitla, the origin Of the
same and what led up to it,
'On the morning OF -, be-
tween the hours OF -, Dan
Reoble, jr., was found dead on the
sidewalk in Youngstown, aud over the
PROSTATE form was Harry Forker, of
sharon. Pa. holding in his right hand
| IA package of letters gathered from
| the sidewalk near the body.
"As he was about to drop he was
| intercepted by the writer and man
who has since passed to his reward
Dan Shay, Il saloon keeper.
In Forker's hurry to leave the
scene he failed to find Two envelopes
that contained four letters The same
were picked up by Shay and later
| taken to his place of business.
'rhe writer and Mr. Shay examined
and read the contents of the same,
which proved beyond doubt the
presence of Mr.. Forker there at that
time.
''fhe letters were written by a lady
two from party in New York and
the others from Cleveland. At a later
date Mr. For1er was apprised of the
fact that the writer held these letters
in his possession and asked if he
could use the same A letter was i'm
mediately sent to the writer by Mr.
Forkcr stating that he. (Mr. Forker)
would like to have personar tars
with the writer and meeting took
place a day or so after. Mr. Forkcr
acknowledged he would pay for the
letters The amount not being con-
sidered sufficient, was refused and
from that day on ana up until March,
1908, the writer on the pretext of eX-
posing the letters and the coincidence
Of Mr., Forker being discovered bend
ing over the PROSTATE form of Mr.
Recble, had received at different
times amounts Of money from MI
Forker to remain silent
"About six months ago when l re
turned to Sharon with my wife, l met
Mr.. Forker and informed him that
unless I received $4,000 between then
and the time | intended to leave
sharon. / would hold the secret no
longer.
He then informed me that it was
impossible for him To get that amount |
but some time in April. 1903, he was
to get certain amount of money and |
would then settle with me
Gilman lpuNrfur, sharon March |
1903, / went to Cleveland and wrote |
to Forker, as follows:
Dear Sir: | have decided not 80 |
wait longer in regard to the money |
proposition and if 7 don't hear FROM
YOU soon, there viii be some expos
ing
March f6 | received an answer to
the same. which read:
"'You knew the circumstances and
the promise l made you when you left
here but if you are desperately in
need Of money. as YOU profess to be,
| viii outline "A little plan. which with
your cooperation, can be very sue
ccssfully carried out, viz The abb
duction of J T.. Whitla's son. I can
arrange to have the boy brought TO
Warren, Ohio. due there at 1l.16 with
(Thero is no signature to let-
toO.
II left Cleveland AT SIS a. m ami
arrived at Warren at 1906 m. inen
proceeded to Niles. Ohio. by sirc
car. ! arrived at Warren at 11.tS =.
m, but failing TO see the boy and ais
escort got off at Warren and re-
maincd in the vicinity of the depot
About ten minutes later. boy and
escort arrived and l was then IN
formed that they drove from Sharon
To Warren. I Informed party to take
boy up along pittsburg x Western
track. leave him there and that /
would attend To- the rest Of it and
which he proceeded 20 do.
II brought tho boy to Niles. Ohio.
from there, to Ashtabula. and then te
Cleveland. ON March - I received
a letter from Mr Forker stating that
somc one had Informed AR Whitla
that they had recognized his boy oH
March is ia Nilcs Ohio. and that
James Boyle of sharon. was with him.
also that Mr. WhitIa was afraid to
livulgc the information for fear that
The boy might come TO harm and tell
ng me to be careful and that when
received the money To Immediately
surrender the Youngstown letters. 20
send same to him at Sharon and on
Tuesday. April 90. te return half ~