Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1909-03-23
Boy, Restored to Father
at Cleveland, Home
in Triumph.
HOLIDAY AT SHARON
Public Schools Close and BuSi-
ness Is Suspended to Wei
come the Lad.

Sharon, Pa, March 23.-Willie
Whitla arrived here at 1906. A
crowd of fully 5000 persons extend
ed the boy a demonstration of greet
ing and cheering and singing the
crowd followed the boy and father to
the Whitla home.
Business Suspended.
Business was practically at stand
still, the public schools dismissed.
and jollification that will last until
late tonight given full sway. With
in a short time the party arrived at
the Whitla residence where second
large crowd which had congregated
throughout the morning was in evil
dence The boy and father attemp-
ted to alight from the cab they were
! in the midst of remarkable demon
; Stration.
| All Sharon Wild.
! Tears were in many eyes, and all
Sharon seemed wild with joy. With
difficulty the father, boy and others
in the party succeeded in extricating
| themselves from the crowd and went
into the house. Here the mother who
had been patiently waiting affection
ately clasped the child to her breast.
For several minutes they clung to
one another and sobbed.
Like Triumphal Journey.
BY 80 o'clock the crowd began to
disperse. From the time the boy left
Cleveland this morning until his ar
rival here, the trip resembled the tri-
umphal journey of some great person
age At most of the railroad stations
there were gathered crowds of curious
people to see the boy who had been
kidnapped.
Climb Telegraph Poles.
His arrival here was remarkable
Along East State street to the Whitla
home many persons found points of
vantage on telegraph poles. In a
number of instances ladders groaning
under the weight of humanity rested
against the houses. The route Of
, about 500 yards from the railroad sta
tion to the Whitla home was through
2 two solid walls of people.
Whistles Are Opened.
g Whistles of the big mills and other
. buildings were pulled wide open and
q the noise was deafening.
5 The task of now capturing the ad-
ductors is occupying the attention of
y the detectives.
Escorted by n Crowd.
Cleveland, Ohio, March 23-James
p. Whitla and son BILLY" left this
Co -, Do,
They were escorted to. the railroad
station by cheering crowd of peo
pie. The kidnapped youngster was
o clasped in the arms of his father from
the moment they left the hotel until
they reached the train.
Proves An AIibI.
Youngstown. Ohio, March 23.-Jos
, eph Wess, local theatrical promoter
u suspected of being implicated in tn,
u Whitla case. was released early toda!
having proved a complete alibi.
Death Penalty Proposed.
:, Harrisburg, Pa. March pa bill
" making kidnapping a felony punishable
20 only by death by hanging was intro
n duced in the senate yesterday.
The present statute provides tha
the kidnaper can be imprisoned fo
al life or for such term as the cou-
may direct. The new bill allows n
judicial discretion as to the punish
= ment of the kidnaper, providing fo
is the death penalty only.
al 1t further provides that a perso
tn convicted of assisting in kidnapin
can be imprisoned for life or sue
he term as the court may direct.
an
of Walks Into Hotel.
ag Cleveland, Ohio. March 23.-Willi