The Detroit times., 1909-03-22
WH|TLA BOY TO De
RETURNED BY HIS ]
ABDUCTORS
FATHER plsMissEs ALL DGTgc Z
TIvEs TO ASSURE klDNAPgRee
THEY WILL NOT BE ARREsTGs
GETS FOURTH LETTER.

SHARON, Pa, March 22.-At-
torney WhltIa this Afternoon 10
sued a statement that he has de-
missed all detectives and rsfueee
to aid In capturing the abductoro.
Detective Perkins says the whit
la boy will be returned within . !:
short time. WhItia's statemen6 10
taken to mean that he has op6nod
direct communication with the aP-
ductors and wishes them TO feel
assured Of immunity from arreet-
The fourth letter from the kid
napers Of Willie Whltia, the 3
year-old son Of ]. p. WhltIa. was
received by the father Of the mice
Inc boy today. The letter 10 post
marked Cleveland and 10 In the
same handwriting az the others.
Immediately after the letter wac
received a detective was rushed to
Ashtabula. The contents Of the
communication could not be
learned except that IL reiterated
the threat contained In all the
ether communications that bad
faith on the part Of the recipient
would result In the death Of the
boy.
cUYAHooA FALLS, Ohio.
March 22.--The man taken here 40
a suspect In the WhItla abduction !.
proved TO be Justice OF the Peace
Bowman, Of curwensviIle, Pa.
The boy with him 10 hIs con. Bow
man was Immediately released.
CLEVELAND, O.. March 22.-Plana
we're made again today to recover
Willie Whitla. the 8-year-old son Of
!. T.. Whitla. an attorney Of Sharon.
Pa. Negotiations had been completed
Tor the delivery Of the boy to his IA
her Saturday but the police guarded
Flatiron park, where the father had
placed $4,000 In bills. and the plan
was frustrated.
The boy is in Ashtabula." said T.
8. Ward, Of the Perkins detective
agency, today. The Ashtabula DO
lice cannot get him. They have prom
ised not to act. Mr.. Whitla. the "a
Their. Is awaiting word as to where Il
put the $4,000 the second time FOL
Biliy's return"
AAQ hOh DC ottNGA Wy tAitS w A&~s<~
kidnapers when they stole him from
school here Is being used today In ~
effort to trace the fugitives and recov
or the boy. The horse belongs tr
Johnson. a Sharon liveryman
On the day the Whitla boy was alb
Quoted the horse was rented from
Johnson and then driven to the
school, where word was sent to the
teacher that Willie was wanted by
his father. After getting the boy the
drove toward Warren, IL
miles away and then abandoned the
horse and buggy.
Detectives today took the horse and
drove toward Warren. When they had
gone a few miles they dropped the
reins and allowed the animal to pro
coed of its own accord. hoping the
horse would stop at the house where
the kidnapers are believed to have
taken the boy Immediately after he
was stolen.
The letter from the captors Of Billy
Whitla came TO the boys parent IN
Sharon Friday afternoon.
Instructions were given him 10 &c
alone to Ashtabula on Saturday night
place the SlO.OO0 under rock NJ the
base Of gorge in the park at II
o'clock. At o'clock on the follow
Ing morning. IL the money was OBJ
tanned by the kidnapers, they promis'
cd that the stolen boy would be sent
to the Smith hotel in Ashtabula. un'
harmed.
That there might be no mistake
made. another letter, II was promised
would be written to Whitla under the
name Of &C. A. White" Saturday
night. He was TO receive this letter
at the Smith hotel In Ashtabula. Whit
la was instructed specifically that ne
was to be accompanied by no one
wheo he went to the park to deposit
the money.
Consults Detectives.
Immediately on receipt Of the letter
Whitla called In private detectives IN
(Contfnued ON Page Seven.)