Bonners Ferry herald. [volume] (Bonners Ferry, Idaho) 1904-current, 1917-06-12
.K|DNAPPERS 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 Observation-Disclosures Are
Prostrated-Had Offered to
Pay Ransom.

Springfield, Mo.-Baby Lloyd Keet
was found dead Saturday. The child
had been drowned in a 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 capeured 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.
Found Near Haunted House.
The body of the 14-months-old child
was found by a sheriff'sposse which
had gone to a 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 seolen. A woman's
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.
l Father Had only one Chance.
]. Holland Keet, the wealthy father
was given but one opportunity to
: rescue his son. The elements and
1 possibly his friends combined to de
: feat the rescue. Shortly after the
4 kidnapping Mr.. Keet received an anon
: ymous letter directing him to pro
: coed by automobile along through q
e certain country district the coming
night. When he observed a lighted
e lantern by the roadside, the letter
, directed, he was to drive on for {
e mile, return and exchange $4,000 fol
:, the child.
: But that night tornado descended
n upon the country. Roads were al
e but impossible and rain fell in tor
n rents Nevertheless the anxious faith
+ er started his journey, followed BY
h friends in other automobiles ant
e though he drove until dawn he did no
It receive the signal.
Search Was Unremitting.
q From day to day the search TO
q Lloyd grew more minute. The count!
authorities bent every energy in thei
p effort to catch the kidnapers and t
q and seven persons are held charged
o with conspiracy to kidnap other per
q sons, but not one was definitly charg
= ed with taking Buddie Keet.
a Mrs. Keet, the baby's mother, wa
; on the verge of a complete break
down. The father, too, was grie
striker.
Offered to Pay Any Ransom.
,, Mr.. Keet repeatedly had offere'
: to pay any ransom demanded, an
: promised at one time that he woul
- 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 on
time had been so close to the kidnaI
=. ers that it had become necessary 70
- them to seek safety and had killed tn
little fellow.
Ie Story of the Kidnapping.
re The child was removed from it
crib in its room in the palatial Kee
home on Wednesday night, May 81
The abductors put a price of $500
is ransom on the baby. The next NOV
n was a note saying that the child wa
lg concealed where the searchers coul
re reach him in an automobile in ha
re an hour. Mrs. Kate Keet, grant
o. mother of the child, is prostrate'
lie 1t is her estate-of 100000 that tn
IT, little baby was to inherit.
rrrI.- l..