The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1909-03-31
LAD COMES BACK
Little Willie WhitIa Restored To
His Fathers Arms
BOY OF EIGHT YEARS

His Agonized Parcnts-Was Found
at Observation-Disclosures Detectives
Say He Paid the $4,000 Ransom.
Cleveland, Ohio, March 22.-Little
Willie Whitla, who has caused the
police of the country endless worry
since he was kidnapped from school
in Sharon, Pa, last Thursday, was
returned to his father at the Hol-
lenden Hotel here tonight at $3.50
o'clock. Shortly after noon Mr..
Whitla left Sharon for Cleveland.
He was unaccompanied. His i'm
mediate family and the private de-
tectives he had in his employ he ap-
prised of the proposed secret meet
ing, but insisted that he make the
trip alone. Every n of them was
warned that he must be allowed to
go unheralded and no attempt at the
capture of the %kidnappers now be
made. Whitla was certain that If
he spoiled the plans Of his sons cap
tors tonight, he would never see the
lad again.
About 2 o'clock this afternoon he
went to a candy store in the
End. With him he carried the $1O,-
900, expecting that it would be de-
manded 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.
| Detectives in his employ say that ne
paid the money, but on this point
the father declines to commit him
self. Half an hour later he return
ed to the Hollenden Hotel and await
| ed developments.
AS he waited in the hotel lobby
and corridors Whitla was in a highly
nervous condition. A few newspaper
men walked over to talk to HIM.
I'm heavens name, men, do not say
ANYTHING to me. I am on the verge
of nervous prostration," he said.
IT expect the boy will be back TO-
night, but I cannot state positively
whether he will be returned safe and
sound. Do not ask me to reveal the
alleged settlement. That might ruin
all Of the plans
In the meantime little Willie was
being treated kindly, and even at
this time does not realize what dang
er he was in. The woman in the
candy store had done her duty. She
communicated with the captors of
the boy and told them that the faith
er had made no attempt to trap
them. The boy was brought from his
unknown hiding place to a car line
in the east end of the city.
A few rods from the car line the
man stopped the boy. Pulling a pair
Of smoked glasses from his pocket,
he adjusted them to the lads head
with the remark: you'll look bet
ter in these" The sides of the black
yarn cap were pulled carefully over
the boys ears. A slip, which Willie
was to hand to the conductor, was
put in the boys pocket. 1t read:
Send this boy to the Hollenden
Hotel double quick"
Willie says the man told him that
IL anybody asked him who took him
to the car line to tell them 1t was
Mr.. Jones'"
Cali right, Mr.. JONES'" answered
Willie.
Presently a car came into view
! and the mysterious MI. Jones drew
the boy close to him.
well, Willie, you are going down
town now and you will Sc your papa
pretty soon," he said.
This delighted Willie. He swung
on to the a quickly, according to
the conductor. "Mr. Jones" paid
the boys fare and then got off the
car and disappeared after waving
a friendly adieu.
Presently Edward Mahoney, aged
II, sat down in the seat with the
boy. Mahoney, like most every 9TH
err person in Cleveland last night, was
looking for Willie Whitla. So he
started a conversation.
"What's your name," he queried.
"Jones," answered Willie, as his
kidnapper friend had told him to do.
But Mahoney was not to be fooled.
He called his friend, Ramsey, over
from another part Of the a and
showed him Willie. He suggested
that it might be the missing child.
Then Willie showed them his trans
fer slip, saying that he should he put
off at the Hollenden Hotel, and they
were convinced it was he.
The boys teok Willie to the hotal
He skipped through the doors ahead
of them, and into the lobby.
Willie did not see his father, moth
err or sister In the lobby. Walking
over to the clerk he asked: Hare
you seen my papa?"
"Who is he, boy?" he was asked.
ooh, I'm Mr.. Whitla's Willie" he
replied.
The crowd nearest the boy who
heard the words rushed In around
him. The father and his boy were
then brought together and the rapid
" increasing crowd gave frantic
cheers for them both. Father and
son went to the formers room.
Then through the door came these
words snoken by the father to the