Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1917-10-08
TRIAL
OVER DEATH
LLOYD KEET
Famous Abduction Tragedy
Crowds Courthouse In
Missouri Town.

8&arsbUeIds ohIaa oct S.-Ahe
trial of Claude J. piers0i, charged
with kidnapping Lloyd heet, the iB-
fans son Of 3 Springfield, Mo-
banker, was to omen in the circuit
court here today. Piersol, " no is
only % years old. is alleged 10
have headed band. two OF " whom
are charged with him i'm the alb
duc.I0n Of the keef baby, and four
others who are accused, with the
trio, Of q plot to abdUct teWel2r
NJ Springfield,
Although the death Of the child,
whose body was found In an abandon
ed cfstern. does not figure in the
charge against Piersol, conviction for
KIDNAPPING. or attempting to kidnaps
carries q life sentence in Missouri
Nearly two hundred witnesses have
been called from many parts Of the
country and a special panel Of "a men
has been summoned for jury purposes
The court room has been enlarged 10
provide accommodation for the crowd
that has come here for the trial
The abduction Of Lloyd Keets the
I#-m0n ths-Old son OF j, Holland heet.
"a banker Of Springfield. Mo, culmin-
ated in the baby's death. IL Involved
another alleged kidnapping conspiracy,
said 10 have been part of German
plot and the attempted IyDchln9 OF
enc OF the s0-caIIed e0uspirat0rs in an
effort 10 force him 10 confess that he
was implicated in the keet baby's dis
appearance and death
While the child's parents we're at
tending q bali at the Springfield Coun-
try club Oh the night Of May 3D. 1917,
the baby was stolen from his crib IN
the family home Ten days later the
body was found. wrapped IN aH@o3d
black underskirt. Al the bottom OF 3
well at the Crenshaw mansion, which
had been uninhabited for many years
Meanwhile, friends, detectives, and the
hal1gss father had secured the Ozark
hills and had even visited previously
the cid farm house in their search for
the missing boy.
No threats had been made to the
Eeet family previous to the abduction
but on the following morning Mr- Neet
received a note threatening mutation
10 the infant il o ransom Of $4,000 was
not paid the following night. Mr. Rect
ardeaEored to comply, but failed TO
meet the kidnapers- Various rewards
we're offered but these were followed
uB by letter 10 the father that the
ransom fee would be increased from
$4,000 to $4,000
SIX days after the disappearance Of
the how Tavlor Adams. his wife. Allie
s5a4g@ and his Two sons. Make and
rfarus. respectively IS and 20 years
old and Claude Ptersoi were arrested
An vehementIy denied any connection
with the Eeet case, bur alleged stare
-.anfz If r7s prisoners told of plan
to abduct c. A. Cmeneuts. a Spring
e-fF 5e<s-afa- and q babv other than
- f-aaF rhi15
(..--... T,r,.4 xs..t,.s f.,ea
e .''-',' - 80 arta-ad +2e
-51 -.-it---- -, ~ a44aga5 state
l1'5st q, - 49, - r7a1 had en-
- ,-5~, - assist in Ezidnapfnz
p!ossa li-4'. ~ 80 .s;4 -, Faz,e
= -5iil@iis7- ~. -. f-[-.,,s- ss-s.+
etEtf gu "a u O. a. 49,, -,-~rg5z4
.a - L,''-7 z.f1-4 ,t7o77. Ii,
ie1 Soi +t- - T.. 80. sr,d ETaz-F..r
A-1'41ag tIi- .-- r--,:a-z ls+~tee,
as [1-1 ~ III .lg 49, ~ ste+arser,te
sAll 7ttol- ~ ~ l-ll-z.l5 -,-a,,r -[9zgl[.-
or rae Pel5t''l9 -ll.E.s.Zs--f So, T1,s
eessllli- l-s 49, - - 80
no -l.l-i -. ~ ,o,-a,@r a T,sr+r og ~ffs-
-. - q second and more thor
zsl5 l'ls,.s &. If t,le Tra1za farm ana
80 a.. -, eoronar'z inauass
- 80 nc offfa had died from
1,-.7l.45rs and lack Of proper nourish-
,.,eas
sheriff Webb attempted to spirit his
away i'm an automobile. The
mob nursued and finally caught them
80 st g.lLf Mo. IS miles north Of
where they took Pierso1
T-on7 faa sheriff and went through all
taa movements Of a wnching party
even 10 sfringing the prisoner from