New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1920-08-05
Home of Crank
Fails to Reveal
Coughlin Baby
Postal Inspectors Keep All
Other Details of Search
Secret, but Believe Man
Held Is the kidnaper
Abductor Is w alth Y
Missing Child Is Believed
TO Be in Philadelphia
With Innocent Caretakers

PHILADELPHIA, Aug 4.-Postal in
srcctors announced to-day that a
search of the house where "The
Crank under arrest in connection
with the kidnapping of the thirteen
morth-od son of Mr. and Mrs. George
II. Coughlin, of Norristown Pa, said
he resided revealed no trace of the
missing child.
What else was found in the place
that might lead to the recovery of the
baby or connect "Thc Crank" with the
actual kidnapping George A. Leonard,
chief postal inspector, said he was not
at liberty to reveal.
The inspector added that the man
under arrest, who, the Pennsylvania
state police and the postal authorities
say they believe is the man wanted, is
well to do and prominent in the COM
munity where he said he lived. Leon
ard declared he believes the child is in
charge of persons in Philadelphia. who
do not know it is the kidnapped baby.
Mans Name Kept Secret
Until the authorities complete their
examination of the prisoner and in
vestigate the story he tells, his name
will not be made public, nor will the
place where he is being held be re-
vealed. He was arrested in Egg lIar-
Dor, N. j., Monday and is believed to
be under detention in South Jersey
town.
To the public the prisoner is known
as THE Crank" because he is sus-
pectcd of being the man who wrote
letters signed "The Crank to Coughlin
demanding $4,000 for the return of the
child. Coughln placed the money
where designated, on June II, fifteen
days after the baby was taken from its
crib on the second floor of the Cough
lin home by means of ladder. The
money disappeared without any clew to
the child being revealed.
Postal Inspector Leonard confirmed
the dramatic story of the methods used
in trapping and capturing the man sus-
pected of being the kidnaper. Accord
ing to Leonard, the Coughlins recently
received more letters demanding $10,-
600 for the return of the child.
Correspondence with the writer was
carried on through newspaper adver-
tlsements, and it was arranged taat
Coughin should drop the money III a
Dun lIOIl Il IdIlIOtV tl'illi tSIWtcil
Camden and Atlantic City when ne
saw a white sheet flying from a tree.
Capture Is Described
The Pennsylvania state police and
the postal authorities co0pcrated. One
hundred and ten policemen, in civilian
clothes, covered the railroad from Cam
den to Atlantic City, distance of fifty
six miles. The distance was divided
into sections and each section num-
bered. Coughlin was given map
showing the sections, and was instruct
cd TO display from the car window the
number of the section when he threw
out the box.
lie boarded the train, saw the white
sheet a short distance from Egg Har-
Dor, threw out the box and displayed
the figures IL, which were seen by
state policemen along the railroad
They Immediately went to that sec
ton. A man was observed to come from
the woods, pick up something from
the tracks and disappear. He was
traced through the timber and cap
tured in Egg Harbor.
Bloodhounds were put on the trail
to prove the man was the right one
and they carried the scent to the spot
whore he was captured. State police
mex who Travelled on a special train
preceding the regular train also
figured in the capture.