Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1917-06-09
BODY OF MISSING
BABY LLOYD KEET
IS FOUND IN WELL
Friends of Parents Get In
formation From Unknown :
Source
WELL AT RENDEZVOUS OF
--TARFACED RILEY GANG
Suspects In. Jail Spirited
Away to Prevent Lynch
ing Bee

Springfield, Mo-, June 9.-The body
Of Baby Lloyd Keet, the ii months
old son of J, Holland Keet, who was
kidnapped May 30, was found this after.
noon in an abandoned well on the Cren-
shaw place, eight miles southwest of
Springfield.
The Crenshaw place was mentioned
as the proposed rendezvous of the
50 Riley. gang" in their scheme to kid
nap G. A. Clement, jeweler, according
to the confession of Claude Piersol and
Taylor Adams, two suspects held in
connection with the kidnapping.
Both men, however, denied that they
knew anything about the Keet case.
Authorities have thus far been unable
to shake their stories, but believe that
Piersol ultimately will confess to his
part in the abduction.
That the baby had been thrown. into
the well shortly after its disappearance
on the night of Decoration day was
evident from the fact that the boody
was partly decomposed. 1t was wrap
ped in an old undershirt and probably
had been in the well for several days.
The information which resulted in the
finding of the baby's body was obtain
ed from unannounced sources by Nanny
Simmons and Edward Conklin, friends
of the father of the abducted boy. The
confession Of Claude Piersol, one of the
suspects held in the case, also mention
ed the deserted Crenshaw place as the
rendezvous of the kidnapping gang in
their plan to abduct G. A. Clement,
wealthy jeweler of Springfield.
Fear Led to Crime.
A search of the abandoned house
several days ago resulted in the finding
Of baby crib, bearing evidences of
having been recently occupied. Author
tiles, however, believed that the kid
napers, fearing detection, had disap-
peared with the baby.
That their deductions were partially
was revealed by the discovery
of the body this afternoon.
The proximity of the officials to
their hiding place probably led them to
10 away with the child and thereby add
10 their chances of escape.
With detectives, Conklin and Sim.
mons visited the Crenshaw place again
his morning. They had about decided
% abandon their search when they ran
lcross the old well. Its cover was part
y rotted away, and peering down be
ween the sagging boards, the searchers
.ould see nothing but stagnant water,
lalf covered with floating debris.
Unwilling to abandon the search,
hey dragged the bottom with a gaff
look and the body was brought to the
urface There was no doubt as to the
,aby 5 identity.
Rushed Prisoners Away.
Before announcing their discovery to
he public, authorities were notified
md the six prisoners held in the city
all were hurried out of Springfield.
Feeling is running high and lynch
ng would undoubtedly have resulted
lad the news leaked out before the
prisoners had been spirited away. Their
is known only to the po- |
ice
Mrs. Keet, mother Of the kidnapped
hid, has not been told of the finding
f the. body For the past few days,
ince it became apparent that the child
'ould not be returned by the abductors,
he has been in a serious condition.
realization that the baby is dead, may
ause collepse which might prove
ltal, her physicians say.
Keet Denounces Friends.
Keet is bitter in denuneiation of well
leaning, but misdirected friends who
Dllowed him on his wild drive over the
torm-swept Greene county roads the
light following the kidnapping. With the
5000 ransom in his pocket, he drove
throughout the night. Diree-
ons given in letter from the abduet-
IS, were complied with to the minutest
etail, and there could have been no
nance for their failure to identify the
elbow phantom car.
However, Il dozen cars trailed along
ehind, acting as an unsolicited body
lard. Friends feared that the unarmed
otorist and the $4,000 he carried
light prove too tempting a lure for
Two nights. later Keet again attempt
| to steal away in the middle of the
ght to answer second summons from
le abductors. but for some unknown
.ason failed to accomplish his mission.
Since then he had made no effort to
eet the abductors, but had kept faith
it'll them by playing square" and
.fnsing to aid the police.
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