The Topeka state journal., 1909-03-22
ANOTHER LETTER.
Fourth One Received From Kid
napers of Whitla Child.
Detectives Promise Early Cap
ture of the Party.
INSIDE OF TWO DAYS.
They Say the Boy Will BE Re-
stored to His Parents.
Number of Persons Have Been
Held on Suspicion.

d.
ported here shortly before II O'Clock
that the Whitla family have assur-
ances that Willie Whitla will be re-
turned within As hours. 1t is said
another letter has been received di-
recting in what manner the money
shall be paid. All details of the ne
gotiations are being carefully guarded
however
f. H. Buhl, millionaire uncle of the
boy and several detectives attended
the conference this morning in Mr..
Whitla's office. Mr.. Whitla admitted
today the Ashta abula story is correct.
The abductors, in their letter, had in
structed him to have the money in the
ties.
Mr.. Whitla is near collapse now
His wife is bearing up we'll but it is
believed that another disappointment
viii cause serious consequences.
Detective Perkins of Pittsburg, in
a statement to the Associated Press at
11:30 a. m. said:
"a fourth letter has been received
you the contents of the letter at this
time, but will say that, give us lit
tie time. and we will walk the kid
napers into Mr.. Whitla's office"
1t is believed that the boy will be
safe in his parents home by nightfall.
Police Made Big Mistake.
Akron. O.. March ga complete
investigation today satisfied the po-
lice that the boy found a Cuyahoga
Falls last night stopping at the Upson
hotel. was not Billy Whitla, but
that he was Crawford Bowman, son
of Harvey L. Bowman. and that the
man with him was his father, both
OF Curwensville, Pa. They reached
CuyahOga Falls last night and regis
tered as H. L. Bowman and Crawford
Bowman. The night officers and DR..
+. L. Smith this morning, after an
examination, felt satisfied that the
boy was not Billy Whitla. Marshal
Shoai, however, refused to allow Bow
man to leave until someone now on
the way from Sharon would arrive
and learn positively whether it was
list of references, saying he is
Justice of the peace and a deputy tax
collector at Curwenville.
The report that the boy had been
doped was denied by DR. F. D. Smith,
as soon as he saw him. The boy is s
years old and has white hair and dark
blue eyes but outside of that there is
not much resemblance. The woman
Bowman met here was his wife he said.
She had come to Akron a week ago and
he was on his way with the boy to Man
chester. Ohio. to visit relatives.
Feeling Their Way
Sharon. Pa, March 22.-Developments
are likely today in the Whitla kidnap-
Ing case 1t Is dQ1QlLI6d To-Day that the
sbductors have taken preliminary steps
to give the boy back for the ransom of
$4,000. The affair at Ashta bula, O.,
Saturday night and early yesterday, is
believed to have been directed by the
kidnapers only for the reason of discov-
ering whether Mr.. Whitla is sincere in
his intention to pay the money. It is
the general opinion now that the alb
ductors had no thought of surrendering
the lad at Ashtabula. but were en-
deavoring to satisfy themselves that
Mr. Whitla will secretly pay the money
for the return of his boy.
1t is also believed the kidnapers will
communicate with Mr.. Whitla in the
near future for the purpose of getting
the $4,000. The attitude of Mr. WhitIa
in secretly depositihg the ransom at
Ashtabula, is an evidence that all he
wants is the child and that the alb
ductors need not fear prosecution from
him.
Today rumors of every description
were in circulation. In fact reports We're
so numerous and came from such a
wide territory, that it was difficult to
obtain any definite idea of what devel-
opments are new in the case.
The abductors We're said to be in the
vicinity of Warren, o.. Cleveland, Ash
tabula, Greenville, Pa. Pittsburg Buff
falo and a half dozen small towns sur
rounding this city.
No Cooperation.
1t is apparent that a majority of the
are searching an exclusive portion of
the country hereabouts and that there
is no cooperation as to any one point
At 10 O'Clock this morning an air of
expectancy pervaded this city. 1t is be-
lieved the detectives and WhitIa fam
lily have received word from the alb
ductors and are now in conference as
TO what steps to take.
Detective Ward of PHILADELPHIA i
holding a conference with Mr.. Whitla
Detective Perkins of Pittsburg. with q
large force of operatives, are scattered
throughout this vicinity. Six members
of the Pennsylvania state constabuIarv
in plain clothes, have crossed the line
into Trumbell county, Ohio and ART,
now engaged in running down clues at
Warren, Niles and Girard Ohio A
mounted squad of state police has left
for the northeast and a third SQUAD
rode off at $3.50 a m. to the south in
this state.
1t is said that owing to orders re-
ceived from Harrisburg. Pa. the state
police who have started into the north
east territory are believed to be inves-
tigating a story made known here to-
day. According to this story an old
man who has lived alone three miles
from Sharon. disappeared Thursday
and has not been seen since. 1t is re
ported that on Thursday. the day Will
lie Whitla was kidnapped. a man in a |
rig drove to the house of the old man
and then both drove away.
He Caused Suspicion.
At Altoona, Pa, a stranger. with q |
child applied for accommodations at
the Hotel Gilbert last night and ex-
cited suspicion by refusing to register.
The police questioned the man and il
was ascertained he was lumber rner-
chant of Clearfield, Pa.
There is much activity in Toledo,
Ohio. and vicinity today. according to