Clearwater Republican. [volume] (Orofino, Idaho) 1912-1922, 1917-06-15
K|DNAPERS KILLED
LLOYD KEET BABY
HEIR TO GREAT RICHES CAST
INTO WELL-RANSOM
is SPURNED.
SEVEN SUSPECTS ARRESTED
Mob Of Ten Thousand Waited Eager
to Lynch Prisoners-Parents Are
Prostrated-Had Offered to
Pay Ransom.

Springfield, Mo.-Baby Lloyd Keet
was found dead Saturday. The child
had been drowned in we'll on an
abandoned farm at least four days
ago, according to an autopsy, when
the band of kidnapers who took him
from his home May 80 began to fear
capture.
Saturday night scores of Spring
field men in automobiles were hurry
ing in pursuit Of the county sheriffs
automobile, in which seven persons
suspected of completely in the kid
naping and murder were being sped
to the state prison at Jefferson City.
Openly the pursuers declared their
intention of taking summary ven
geance upon the perpetrators of the
crime.
The prisoners were captured at
Caplinger's mill, two miles east of
Stockton. Not less than 10000 people
were on the square awaiting word
from the posse.
Paul O'Day, county prosecutor, tele-
phoned that Sheriff Webb and his
party of alleged abduction plotters,
fleeing from threatening mobs. were
safe somewhere in Cedar county, Mo.
ODay telephoned from Humansville,
Mo-, saying he was on his way to
meet Sheriff Webb to obtain addition
al statements from some of the pris-
oners.
Ennnd Noar Haunted House.
The body of the 14-months-old child
was found by a sheriff's posse which
had gone to "haunted" house, long
since abandoned, in the Ozark mount
aims, eight miles southwest of here.
The sheriff was told that trace OF the
child could be found on the farm
Straightway he left Springfield with
deputies and the long search began.
AT noon they thought of the well.
A deputy was lowered into the open
ing while others held him by his feet.
And there was found the body OF
"Buddie' Keet, wrapped in the pink
blanket, which was upon his bed the
night he was stolen A womans
skirt, too, of black silk substance,
was wrapped around the body and was
the only evidence left by those who
threw the baby into the water.
Father Had Only One Chance.
J. Holland Keet, the wealthy father
was given but one opportunity to
rescue his son. The elements and
possibly his friends combined to de-
feat the rescue. Shortly after the
kidnapping Mr.. Keet received an anon
ymous letter directing him to pro
coed by automobile along through
certain country district the coming
night When he observed a lighted
lantern by the roadside, the letter
directed, he was to drive on for
mile, return and exchange $4,000 fol-
the child.
But that night tornado descended
upon the country. Roads were all
but impossible and rain fell in tor
rents. Nevertheless the anxious faith
err started his journey, followed by
friends in other automobiles and
though he drove until dawn he did not
receive the signal.
Search Was Unremitting.
From day to day the search fol
Lloyd grew more minute. The county
authorities bent every energy In theii
effort to catch the kidnapers and tc
save the child Arrests were made
and seven persons are held charged
with conspiracy to kidnap other per
sons, but not one was definitly charg
ed with taking Buddie Keet.
Mrs. Keet, the baby's mother, was
on the verge of a complete break
down. The father, too, was grie
striker.
Offered to Pay Any Ransom.
Mr. Keet repeatedly had Offered
to pay any ransom demanded, ant
promised at one time that he would
not press the prosecution If the bah,
should be returned to him. Conse
quently the only reason apparent t.
officials for the murder OF the bah!
was that searching parties at one
time had been SO close to the kidnap
ers that it had become necessary TO-
them to seek safety and had killed thu
little fellow.
Story Of the kidnapping.
The child was removed from it
crib in it's room in the palatial Kee
home on Wednesday night, May 30
The abductors put price of 5000
ransom on the baby. The next NOV
was a note saying that the child wa
concealed where the searchers coul'
reach him in an automobile in hal
an hour. Mrs. Kate Keet, grand
mother of the child, is FRUSTRATED
It is her estate of 100000 that tn
little baby was to inherit.
The Keet home is located in tn
fashionable section of Springfield
Mo. Little Lloyd was sleeping i
his crib in separate room. The kit
napers removed all the crib clothe
when they took the boy. The mothe
and father were attending dance q