South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1917-12-23
Piersol Bares
Whole Keet Plot;
Baby Pois on ed
Associated Press Service

-N-'' .'''''
SPRINGFIELD. Mo, Dec. --
Claude G.. Piersol who was recently
sentenced TO serve 35 years i'm the
Missouri penitentiary for the ahduc-
ton of Baby Lloyd Keet and now
is charged with the infants murder.
has made q confession To Sheriff
Ward Mackey of Webster county.
the sheriff announced tonight. The
confession implicated several per
sons now under arrest and others
who have been mentioned from
time 10 time.
The kidnapped child died of poison
ing. according TO Piersols alleged
confession a drug having been ad-
ministered by one "Riley" 20 put
the child to sleep and keep IL quiet
Riley is named 10y Piersol as the
leader of the gang and the man
who plotted the abduction. but he
SAYS man now under arrest under
the name Of Riley and held for
the Springfield authorities is not the
right Riley.
Denies Touching Cmid.
According 10 the signed confes-
sion Piersol admits his part in the
abduction but says il was Riley who
climbed into the window Of the Keet
home and took the baby. Riley
handed the child TO Dick Carter ac-
cording to Piersol. and the latter
gave il to woman. member of
the band Piersol took an active
part i'm the abduction. he admits,
but declares he at no time touched
the child He was stationed at the
Keet home, he said with Cletus Ad-
ans. Make Adams. Dick Carter and
others he names who are not now
under arrest.
The baby was taken To the de-
serted Crenshaw house on coun-
try road outside Springfield and
there, the confession continues
Piersol .ook food for the child and
guards he next day
says lie Did Not Write Letter.
Piersol knew nothing Of the plot
to kidnap the child until Cletus Ad-
ans put IL up 10 him" according
20 the confession, and he denies
writing the ransom letters which eX-
perts swore ne penciled. The post
card mailed 10 the father of the
kidnapped baby. the last word he re-
ceived from the abductors. was
mailed by Taylor Adams Piersol
says. Piersol says ne bought the
card in Springfield and Riley mailed
it 10 Adams with instructions 10
drop it in the mail box in Kansas
City
Piersol denies knowledge of the
death Of the child until after his
arrest. In the confession ne says
a member of the kidnapin2 band
not unde- arrest called on him at
the county jail and told him of the
administration OF the poison and
the resultant death Of the baby
Riley is going 70 throw il in the
well at the Crenshaw place. he
SAYS the visitor told him
Planned 10 Take Father. Too.
Make Adams. T. years old.
charged with the attempt 10 lyidnap
C. a. Clement and recently released
from Jail was the first person 10
be arrested as the result OF Pier
SOILS confession Twelve persons.
including Make Adams and TAYLOR
Adams. held az Marshhelo and
charged with the kidnapping. are inn
plicated in the abduction bv the
confession and warrants have been
issued for several.
The confession alleges other abb
ductiOn plots were contemplated av
the gang II was planned 10 kidnap
j. Holland Keet. father OF the kid
mapped child. at the time he paid the
$4,000 ransom. PieTsoI said. and Ed.
L. Sanford vice president Of the
Holland Banking Co. and chairu.n
Of the state highwaE commission.
was marked a. a victim