Los Angeles herald., 1909-03-25
WILLIE WHITLA
RECOGNIZES HIS
TWO CAPTORS
CHILD RANS0MED BY FATHER
IDENTIFIES SUSPECTS
MAN AND WOMAN CONFRONTED
BY BOY THEY STOLE
Sensational Disclosures Expected
When Couple Is Removed to
Sharon-Father Says
Bills Were His
fau AasooIated Press. ]

NLEVELAND, Ohio, March a.
Willie Whitla identified today the
~ man and woman held ON suspicion
by the Cleveland police as the persons
who kidnapped him from the school at
Sharon. Pa, last Thursday ana held
him for $4,000 ransom, which was palo
by his father Monday.
Willie said the man, who gave the
name of James II. Boyle, was the one
who took him from school and carried
him to Cleveland and placed him in the
house in the east end, where ne was
held until the money-was PAID, ana
that the woman was the one VINO cared
for him at the house where he was ue-
tanned, and who acted the part OF a
nurse. .,..
Bowie SAYS the woman is his WIFE,
The police have no otner idenuncatiun
of the couple than the names given.
So far as the man is concerned, the
police believe the name Is correct
Boyle is said to live in Sharon and is
a plumber by trade. He is said to
have a widowed mother, four brothers
and sister.
Promises Sensation
The woman declared her identifica-
ton would cause sensation IN
Sharon.
Mr.. Whitla would say nothing re-
gaTQlnB me WoiIidH. ilS Se'u aS N'AS"
Boyle slightly.
Immediately after Willie had seen
the prisoners they were taken to the
county court house and there appeared
before the grand jury.
The charge, under the laws of Ohio
against them. If an indictment were
found would be blackmail.
AS Boyle and his wife are held by
the police ON suspicion only, an indict-
ment will afford a means OF placing
them under arrest formally.
Immediately after leaving the grand
Jury room Mr. and Mrs. Whitla, Willie
and the janitor of the Sharon school
left for Sharon.
extradition, they will be held here two
or three days until the necessary papers
for their removal to Sharon can be ar
ranged.
A woman known as Mary Dierner,
who the police say may have been an
associate of the kidnapers. or implicat-
ed in the plot, committed suicide To-Day
by drinking morphine.
Woman Drinks Poison
She swallowed the poison while
standing in front of a drug store IN tne
east end. not far from the house III
which Willie Whitla was detained. she
died in an ambulance while on the way
TO hospital.
When Attorney and Mrs. Whitla ar
rived here today. Whitla Ntelephoned 70
Chief of Police Kohler that he was
ready to see him. Chief Kohler replied
hotly that he was at the police station,
where the prisoners were being held.
and that WhitIa could see him there II
he cared to assist in the prosecution OF
the man and woman in custody.
Mr.. Whitla then went to the police
station, but was not allowed to see tne
TIFF
only identification desired was tha'
which the boy could make.
The chief told Mr. Whitla that IL he
did not care to make the identincatloh
In the usual manner he could return &c &c
sharon and the prisoners would pe
prosecuted here on the charge OF black
mail.
Whitla then agreed to have Willie
see the woman and man. An. hour later
Mr.. and Mrs. Whitla and their cnii-
dren appeared.
Prisoner Is Nervous
THE man was the first one taken be-
fore them. Boyle was a little pale ano
nervous.
There was faint smile on his lips
He was seated before the party, Whlci
formed semicircle in front of him.
Chief Kohler asked Willie If he hae
ever seen the man before.
that is the man left Sharon with. HI
took me to Cleveland, then to Ashta
hula. and back to Cleveland. He hac
a mustache when / first saw HIM at tns
school house, but he must have cut !
off later. This is the way he looked
when last saw him IN Clevelano;
Boyle was taken back to his cell ane
the woman was brought in. She wa'
deflantN and naughty. Her only re
Iapse from indignation was when sn'
first saw Willie. Then she smiled.
Immediately Willie walked up to her
and. extending his hand, said
GLOW do you do?"
"Helio. WHILE" the woman replied
as she placed her hand on his heae
and caressed him for an instant
Boy Is Questioned
The boy was asked several questions
by the chief of police. .s,
3 was the nurse who took care of me II
cleveland. She told me / was sicl
and in a hospital. saw her whole
lot. as she was with me most all OF the
time"
Notwithstanding the woman's forme
assertion that there would be q sensa
tion when she was identihed or whel
Whitla, saw her, she and Whitla looked
at each other without outward evi
dence of recognition.
After leaving the police station
Whitla would not discuss the woman
County Prosecutor Cline, who is u
charge of the grand jury. said that
while he could not say what the gran'
iurv would do. the man and womal
could be held in Ohio on the charge 0
blackmail. -
The grand jury was taking up tn
matter merely as a precaution, a
there were no present intentions o
prosecuting the prisoners here.
"It would be better If they wer
tried in pennsylvania, as the law
there are much more severe, the ex
treme penalty for kidnapping being lif
IMPRISONMENT" the prosecutor said.
"That is what they deserve If guilty
For that reason they will be taken :
Sharon for trial first. II for any rea
son they escape punishment there the
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