The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1909-03-25

Its Ny Boy. Ny Darling Willie" He
Cried as He Pressed Child to His
5reast-Pald the $4,000 Ransom to
Woman-lad Was Placed on a
Trolley Car and Sent TO hotel-was
Well Treated by Abduetors-
Cleveland. o., March 25.-Iittle VII
lie Whitla. who has caused the notice
OF the entire country endless worry
since he was kidnapped from school ir
sharon last Thursday. was returned
10 his father at the Hollenden hotel
here Monday night at 8 30 O'Clock In
compliance with an agreement entered
INTO between the kidnapped boys
iather and an agent OF the kidnappers
here the boy was placed on a street
car on the outskirts OF the city and
started TO the hotel. Two boys. G. w
Ramsey and Edward Mahoney. recog.
nized the lad on the car and. taking
him In charge. conducted him TO his
father. who was in waiting according
10 prearranged plan which he had
followed at the dictation Of the kid.
nappers- The boy wandered about the
LOtel lobby urannounced for several
minutes asking bell boys for his father
before the latter knew his son was In
the big foyer. The moment the anxious
parent heard that a strange boy was in
the hotel sauntering in aimless fashion
ne rushed across the lobby. grasped
him in his arms and smothered his
face with kisses.
An attempt had been made 10 dis
guise the lad. He wore a psir OF
smoked glasses and a large tan can
which was pulled down over his ears.
and the father said II would have been
difhcult TO have recognized the bov in
such garb had he passed him on the
street
Willie In Perfect Health.
Willie is in perfect health He says
that he has been well treated. and ever
since his capture has been constantly
Indoors. He believes he was taken
from Sharon to Warren and thence To
New Castle. Pa. II is his opinion. ex-
pressed in happy schoolboy way. that
he was in Ashtabula on Saturday night
at the time his father was TO leave his
$4,000 in Flatiron park.
Mr.. Whitla said that he received q
letter Monday from the kidnappers at
his home in Sharon. saying that IL he
called at 4 confectionery store in the
east end OF Cleveland he would be
told how TO secure his boy. unframed
and well fed"
Shortly afterwards he left Sharon
FOR Cleveland. He was unaccompanied.
He went to a candy store in the east
end. With him he carried the $40 OOO.
expecting that IL would be demanded
OF him there He was met by a woman
who detailed TO him the terms of the
kidnappers. With all the eagerness of
a distracted parent Whitla agreed to
them Immediately. Half an hour later
he returned to the Hollenden hotel and
awaited Developments.
He admitted that he had paid So
0Oo to the woman In the candy store.
The woman did not count the money.
Mr. Whitla believes the woman was
ar Italian. but he refuses to disclose
her identity.
AS the hour for the chIId's return
approached Whitla became nervous.
He rubbed his hands and silently
prayed for the quick return OF his boy.
Laughed and Tested With Kidnapoer.
In the meantime little Willie. the
kidnapped boy. feeling comparatively
safe in the hands OF his kidnappers.
for he was being treated kindly. was
being prepared for return to his father.
The woman at the candy store had
done her duty. She communicated
with the captors of the boy and told
them that the father had made no at
tempt TO trap them. The kidnappers
were satisfied. So the boy was brought
from his hiding place. The kidnapper.
according TO Willie. was cheerful
enough The mysterious one and the
youngsier skipped in schoolboy fashion
toward the trolley line. testing in the
meantime.
With all arrangements made and his
tracks apparently well covered. the
kidnapper took the boys right hand in
his brawny left and they continued
briskly along toward the car line. The
lad skipped gaily enough with his
companion. the promise OF seeing his
Dad" and Ma" urging him forward.
They chatted with each other Willie
says the man told him that II anybody
asked him who took him to the car
line to tell them it was Mr.. Jones"
Just tell them your name Is Jones.
too. II you want to-" said the kidnap-
per.
Presently car came into view and
the mysterious Mr.. Jones drew the boy
closer to him.
We'll. Willie. you are going down
town now and you will see your papa
pretty soon" he said.