New-York tribune., 1920-06-18
$4,000 Offer
Will Be Made
For Stolen Boy
Half of Reward Soon To Be
Put Up for Return of
Coughlin Baby Raised by
Friends in One Day
''The Crank Swindler
Police Chief Says Man Who
Got $4,000 Was Not One
Who Kidnapped Infant
Special Dispatch to The Tribune

Special Dispatch TO The Tribune
PHILADELPHIA, June ia re-
ward of 10000 for the capture of the
kidnaper Of Blakcly Coughlin, the
thirteen months old Norristown baby
who was stolen from his crib in the
night more than two weeks ago, will
be offered within few days by Off
cials of Montgomery County. This was
announced tonight.
Officials stated that fund for the
purpose is being raised voluntarily by
influential citizens and friends of the
parents, Mr.. and Mrs. George H.
Coughlin. Subscriptions amounting to
almost $4,000 were contributed during
the day.
"If the Coughlns would say the
word, a fund of 100000 would be
raised without difficulty" said Norris
towns Chief of Police, Charles l.. A.
Eiler.
The chief made it known at the same
time that the police are convinced that
the mysterious individual who, under
the name of "The Crank induced Mr..
Coughlin to place $4,000 in lonely
spot on Monday night in the hope of
getting back his kidnapped baby. had
nothing whatever to do with the actual
kidnapping.
Two Cases to Solve
owe have now two distinct cases to
solve" said Eiler. after day Of in
vestiga ation, in conjunction with mem
bers of the state police cone of these
is the kidnapping ITSELF tho other is
the apprehension o. the smooth crook
who swndled Cougn,'n."
Chief Eiler said hat it was only
by detailed descriCt as Of the interior
of the Coughlir nursery, where the
baby slept in his crib, and not by any
child that "The Crank" convinced the
Coughlns that he vas the real kid
naper. He also conceded that the only
persons who had access to the CouGhlin
nursery after the disappearance Of the
infant were the police, g finger print
expert. members of the Coughlin
family and three operatives Of the
Burns Detective Agency.
Burns detectives. who were en-
ploycd by Mr.. Coughlin. were taken off
the case shortly after they had caused
the arrest of a former soldier and
former woman servant Of the Cough
Inns, who, it developed, had nothing
whatever to do with the kidnapping.
Wrote Five Letters
"The Crank" wrote five letters to Mr.
touEnllN ana personally toiephOned
him several times in the course of the
negotiations that resulted in the father,
accompanied by his attorney and
friend, c. Townley Larzclere, going to
the abandoned trolley station at Swcde-
land, near Norristown, and depositing
$4,000 in bills in dark spot behind
the old building
Telephone calls received. by Mr..
Coughhn from The Crank were
traced to pay stations in the Phiadol-
phia and Reading station in Norris
town, the Kaighn Avenue station of
the same railroad in Camden and an
unidentified pay station III Norrfstown.
The letters appear to have been writ
ten by an educated man.
Two Secret Service men from Wash
ington. it was said arrived in Nor
ristown yesterday and joined the state
policemen, county and city detectives
and police and inspectors OF the rosra.
department. in aiding in the hunt for
the kidnapped boy and the swindlcr.