The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1909-03-26
KIDNAPPERS FOUND?
Man and Woman Having Satchel
Containing $9,845 Arrested
Little Willie Whitla is
Taken P :ck to his
Home.

CleVtfduQ, OulO, MdlCu 10. 4"o
men and a woman We're arrested to-
night in connection with the Whltla
kidnapping case They had a satchel,
which contained $9,845.50, in cur
rency.
Inspector Rowe processes to believe
that he has captured the kidnapperS
of Willie Whitla. The men and wo-
man in custody thus far have de-
clined to explain the possession Of
such large sum Of money, or where
they came from, or their destination.
Cleveland, Ohio, March 23-The
simple, childish habit Of Willie Whit
la Of spelling out the names Of street
car lines may prove helpful to the
police of Cleveland in finding the
house, in which the boy was
held a captive during his enforced
absence from home.
While the boy was seated at a ia
BILE today at his home in Sharon, he
began spelling street nomenclature.
Among other was the name of street
car line in Cleveland. Detective
Ward, who was near the lad, asked
him what he meant by spelling the
word which he had seen displayed
on the top of the car. "Why, that 5
the name of the street car which pass
ed the hospital, where 'Mr. Jones
kept me,' answered the boy.
Detective Ward at once communl-
Gated the clew to the police in Cleve-
land. Private detectives were sent
here from Sharon and Pittsburg to
90 over the car line and look for the
house described by Willie in his pratt
tie.
Detectives refuse to designate the
car line on which the house is bellev-
ed to be located. It is admitted, how
ever, that the house is not far dis
tant from the corner, at which VIII
lie was placed on the car by one Of
the ~kidnappers Monday night.
The police have a description Of
the house. From the lips Of the kid
mapped boy have fallen from time to
time a. few words about the place.
The first clew to the appearance Of
the house and yard surrounding 1t
was given in letter written by Will
lie to his father Saturday. The boy
said the house was encompassed by
a number of large trees.
No arrests were made by the Shar-
on police today. While the boy, IN
charge of his father, was the centre
of; triumphant home comingJ' the Of
ficials were at work on the slender
clews given them by the boy, who
had been safely returned to his faith
er here last night after the payment
Of the $4,000 ransom.
The departure of Attorney Whitla
and his son for their home in Sharon
was the occasion for demonstration.
Thousands Of persons gathered about
the, Hollenden hotel and followed
them to the railroad depot.
The officials are working indepeld-
emily in their hunt for the kldnap-
pers, as Mr.. Whitla has declared that
he VIII take no part in it. 1t Is
thought by hose making the searcn
that the house in which the boy was
held is located near East 3Oth street,
which is only one mile from the clty's
centre. Druggist Uneer. in whose
store Attc}'ney Whitla obtained
letter giving final Instructions tor The
pavmant of the ransom, and Mrs. b.
A. Hendricks, who was IN charge OF
the little candy store, where the mon-
ey was paid, were closely questioned
by the officials, but little Of value was
learned. The officials believe Mrs.
Hendricks was an innocent agent OF
the kidnapperS, and that the abdue-
ton was conducted by two men and
woman.
DEMONSTRATION At SHARON.