Norwich bulletin., 1909-03-23

OF the entire country endless worry
since he was kidnapped from schoo
in Sharon last Thursday, was returned
to his father at the Hollenden hote
here tonight at $50 o'clock.
Kidnapped Boy Partly Disguised.
In compliance with an agreement en-
tered into between the kidnapped boys
father and an agent Of the kidnappers
here today, the boy was placed on q
street car on the outskirts of the city
and started to the hotel shortly after
eight o'clock. Two boys, G. Ramesey
and Edward Mahoney, recognized the
lad on the car, and taking him In
charge, conducted him to his father,
who was in waiting according to a
prearranged plan which he had fol-
foWed at the dictation OF the kldnap-
pers. The boy wandered about the
hotel lobby unannounced for several
minutes asking bellboys for his ia
ther before the latter knew his son
was in the big foyer. The moment Mr..
Whitla heard that a strange boy was
in the hotel sauntering about in aim
less fashion he rushed across the lob
by, grasped him in his arms and
smothered his face with kisses.
An attempt had been made to dis
guise the lad. He wore a pair of
smoked glasses and a large yarn cap.
which was pulled down over his ears
and the father said it would have been
difficult to have recognized the boy in
such a garb had he passed him on the
street. Willie is in good health.
SAYS He Has Been Well Treated.
He SAYS that he has been we'll
treated and ever since his capture has
been constantly indoors. He believes
he was taken from Sharon to Warren
and thence to Newcastle, Pa. 1t is
his opinion, expressed in happy,
schoolboy way, that he was in'Ashta-
bula on Saturday night at the time
mis- father was to leave his $4,000 in
T'latiron park.
Father Refuses to Say Whether RAN
som Was Paid.
Mr.. Whitla refused to state wheth-
er he had paid the ransom or not.
He said that he received a letter to-
day from the kidnappers at his home
in Sharon. saying that IL he called at
a confectionery store in the east end
or Cleveland he would be told how to
secure his boy unharmed and well
fed"
Father Warned by His Experience at
AshtabuIa.
Shortly after noon he left Sharon for
Cleveland. He was unaccompanied.
Bis immediate family and the private
detectives he had in his employ had
neen apprised bv him of the proposed
secret meeting, but he insisted that he
must make the trip alone, unheralded
and that no attempt at the capture of
the kidnappers must then be made.
Mr.. Whitla was certain that if he
spoiled the plans Of his sons captors
tonight he would never see the lad
again. His experience at Ashtabula
served as a warning.
rs Met by Woman Agent.
About 2 o'clock this afternoon he
went to a candy store in the east end.
With him he carried $40, 600 expecting
that II would be demanded Of him
there. He was met by a woman, who
detailed to him the terms Of the kid
nappers. With distracted eagerness
Mr.. Whitaa agreed to them immedi-
ately. Detectives In his employ say
that he paid the money, but In this
point the father declines to commit
himself. Half an hour later he return
Cd TO the Hollenden hotel and awaited
developments.
Father Waits at Hotel.
His entrance TO the hotel was sur
rounded with secrecy. by a previous
arrangement made with hotel manage
Tnent, he did not register. Detective
q. 3. Perkins, who has superintended
the earcn for the boy in Mr.. Whitlas
Sshalf, was in the lobby of the hotel,
calmly smoking and pretending to be
uneoncerned. But the hearts Of both
the boys parents and the detectives
were beating anXiously. The agent of
the kidnappers promised that the boy
would be started toward the hotel
shortly after nightfall.
AS the hour for the appearance Of
the child's return approached Mr..
WhitlA became very nervous. He dis
regarded the advice of the detectives
who had told him to keep out of sight
of the newspaper men and the crowds
of curious people who had learned that
he was in the city. Emerging from his
room. he walked up and down the hall
on the second floor, with his hands
clasped across his breast. Then, un-
able to stand the suspense longer, he
went 10 the LOBBY and seated himself
In a chair.
A few newspaper men walked over
20 talk to him. but he refused to talk.
I'm heavens name, men, do not say
anything to me. / am on the verge Of
nervous prostration," he said.
Il expect the boy viii be back to-
night, but ] cannot state positively
whether he will be returned safe and
sound. DO not ask me to reveal the al
legged settlement. That might ruin all
OF the plans.
For more than an hour Whtla wait
ed in the lobby. smoking black cigars
end muttering 10 himself
Candy Store Woman Did Her Duty.
In the meantime Willie. feeling COM
paratiyely safe in the hands Of his kid
nappeqs, for he was being treated kind
ly and even now does not realize the
terrible danger he was in, was being
prepated for his return to his father.
The toman at the candy store had
done Der duty. She communicated with
the eaptors Of the boy and told them
that the Il ther had made no attempt
- trap them.
The kidnappers were satisfied. But
Mr. Whitla declines 10 name the wOm-
an In charge Of the confectionery store
and almost dares the police to find her.
SO the boy was brought from the hid
ing place-Where It was no one knows
to q car line In the east end of the
city which would bring him into town
quickly. The kidnaDers, according to
Willie, were cheerful enough. The
mysterious one and the youngster
skipped in schoolboy fashion toward
the trolley line.
Smoked Glasses and Black Yarn Cap.
A few rods from the car line the
man stopped the boy Pulling pair
of smoked glasses from his pocket, he
adjusted them TO the lads head. with
the remark: You'll look better in
these" The sides Of the black yarn
cap we're pulled carefully -oyer the