The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-06-09
BABY KEET
Continued from Page One,


anything about the Keet case. Author
tiles have thus far been unable to
shape their stories, but believe that
Pierso1 ultimately will confess to his
part in the abduction.
A search for the abandoned house
several days ago resulted in the find
ing of a baby crib, bearing evidences
of having been recently occupied.
Authorities, however, believed that the
kidnapers, fearing detection, had dis
appeared with the baby.
Were on Right Trail.
That the deductions were partially
correct was revealed by the discovery
of the body this afternoon. The prox-
unity of the officials to their hiding
place probably led them to do away
with the child. and thereby add to
their chances of escape.
The Keet baby was stolen from the
family home here the night of May
80 His parents had gone to dance
at the Mountry club here and no one
was in the house except nurse and
a son years old. The abduction was
said to have been committed about 10
o clock that night. Neighbors de-
scribed later having seen an automo-
bile driven by the house at rapid rate
of speed. 1t was supposed to have
stopped behind some bushes. Three
men are believed to be the abductors
and it is assumed they took the baby
yards to the car.
Got Letter Next Day.
The baby's father received an
ANONYMOUS letter he day following
the disappearance in which the ransom
for the child was placed at $6,o0O- he
was directed to drive into rural Greene
county that night and was told that
somewhere he would come upon
lighted lantern. There he was to stop
and the child would be returned to
him in exchange for the money
Keet made the trip. with the
had been directed SO the abductors
might recognize him, he left his homo
alone shortly before midnight For
hours thru a binding storm that
made roads almost impossible, he
drove around the Ozark hills of
Greene county But he saw no sign
of the abductors and returned home
hours later, haggard and tired. his
clothing mud-stained and drenched.
Friends Frightened Abductors.
! Explanations given then were that
/ friends who had followed him in their
motor cars, seeking to insure safety,
possibly had frightened away the alb
! ductors. Sinct that time it has oeen
| believed Mr.. Keet made another trip
! in the hills, alone, possibly in response
| 70 another letter, as it has been re-
| ported currently that he received al
| least four communications. But that
| could not be fixed definitely as the
| father, playing almost a lone hand"
| in the search, has refused either to
confirm or deny the rumors.
! The search for the Keet baby had
| assumed nation wide proportions
hTe wealth and high social standing
| of the family, the unusual features of
| the search and the consequent declar-
ations that an organized and we'll di-
rected abduction plot band had been
unearthed, brought publicity to the
case thruout the country
Hope Began to Wane.
Baby Keet was lively youngster of
brown hair and brown eyes. His faith
er has declared repeatedly that he
would giveN up almost any sum de-
manded for Lloyd's presence. Until
two or three days ago, he seemed con-
fident and positive that the boy would
be returned Mrs. Keet, the young
and pretty mother, likewise had kept