The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-05-11
Wife of Convicted Man Receives Long Term in Prison and
 Heavy Fine
BOYLE MAKES STATEMENT
 IMPLICATING ANOTHER
Harry Forker of Sharon, Pa, Is Ae- cused of Being lnstigator of the Act of Kidnapping Little
 Willie Whita.

Mercer. Pa, May 10.-James H. Boyle was sentenced today to life imprisonment in the Western penitentiary at Pittsburg for the Kidnapping of Billy Whitla. Mrs. Boyle indicted as Mary Doe, received a sentence of % years. with fine of $50OD and the costs of the prosecution. Boyle did not create the scene in court he had threatened, and did not utter word prior to his sentence. His counsel, however, made a plea for both Boyle and his wife, asking for lenieney in both cases. He stated that until a recent period the eX- treme penalty for Kidnapping in this state was ten years, and in view of the fact that the boy had been treated with every consideration and that all care had been taken not to infict unnecessary mental anguish upon the parents he felt len iency might be asked
 After Judge Miller of counsel for the Boyles, had completed his plea for len iency, Judge Williams, the presiding judge, asked Boyle if he had anything to say Boyle merely said q have not" and shook his head. Judge Williams then said:
 SenttnCcQ DJ Juu9es
 MT. Boyle the crime of child stealing in ancient times was punishable by death. In Pennsylvania the law is more lenient' He said 1t had been stated by the attor- ney You took good care of him, because he was your prize package. You had to treat him well to get what money was demanded
 Since your arrest we have investigated your record We find you have been con- victed in the Mercer county courts pre- viously to your arrest for Kidnapping. You have been charged with larceny, receiving stolen goods, assault and battery, escape from jail. and many other crimes. All these have had their influence with this court in making Us come to the decision that we have reached that your punish ment shall be the maximum sentence, i'm prsonment for life"
 After the sentence had been imposed on Bole he arose and said to the court:
 Your honor, you are wrong about my record"
 T think not; it is a matter of court record" replied the judge.
 When Mrs. Boyle was ordered to stand up to receive sentence she was asked if she had anything tot say: / T did not do it, and l think the evidence upon which 1 was convicted was very flimsy," she said.
 That was matter for the jury to de- termine.a said Judge Williams, and after a brief review of the case, he imposed the sentence.
 Boyle's Statement.
 Before he was taken from here to the penitentary at Pittsburg today James Boyle gave the following interview, to be used under his name:
 By James H. Boyle. Monday, May 10, 1909
 The complete history of the Kidnapping of Willie Whita the origin of same, and what led up to it:
 "On the morning of -, between the hours of --, Dan Feeble, Jr., was found dead on the sidewalk in front of the Mauser block, East Federal street, Youngstown, and over the prostrate form was MT. Harry Forker of sharon, Pa, holding in his right hand a pack age of letters that was gathered from the sidewalk near the dead body of MT. Feeble.
 "As he was about to depart from the vicinity he was intercepted by the writer and a man who has since passed to his reward, MT. Dan Shay, a saloon keeper of Oak street, Youngstown. O.
 Tn MT. For<er' hurry to leave the scene he failed to find two envelopes that contained four letters. The same were picked up by MT. Shay and later taken to his place of business in Oak street.
 The writer and Mir. Shay examined and read the contents of same, which proved beyond doubt the presence of MT. Forker there at that time.
 Letters by a Lady.
 'oThe letters were written by a lady, two from a point in New York state and the others from Cleveland, O. At a later date Mir. Forker 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 Immediately sent to the writer by MT. Forker. stating that he (Mr Forker) would like to have personal talk with the writer, which meeting took place a day or so afterward. MT. Forker ac- knowledged he would pay a sum of money for the possession of said let ters The amount not being considered sufficient. was refused. and from that day on and up until March, 1908. the writer, on the pretext of exposing the letters and the coincidence of MT. Forker being discovered bending over the prostrate form of MT. Reeble, had received at different times amounts of money from MT. Forker to remain silent.
 About six months ago. when I re- turned to sharon with my wife, met MT Forker on East State street and informed him that unless I received S5O00 between then and the time I In tended to leave sharon, l would hold the secret no longer.
 "He then informed me that fl was i'm possible for him to get that amount of money. but some time in April, 1909. he was to come in possession of a certain