Richmond daily register. (Richmond, Madison County, Ky.) 1917-1978, 1920-03-25
LEXINGTON LAD HELD
FOR $4,000 RANSOM
Sensational kidnapping Takes
Place When Young Son of
E. X. Little Is Stolen
10y Associated Press)

Cpy Associated Press)
Lexington, Ky, March 25-Al-
though Z. X. Little, Lexington
capitalist, had announced the de-
manded ransom would be paid,
Paul Little, his 11-year-old son, is
still a captive today of the kid
napper who lured him away late
yesterday. He stated the kid
napper demanded $500
Little announced all demands !
would be met, declaring 81 do not
care about the $25,000, if | can
get my son back safely.
The boy disappeared with an
unidentified man late i'll the al
ternoon. Later a messenger
delivered note demanding the
ransom.
1t was reported today that the
note to Little said Little appar-
entity had injured the kidnappcr
at some time 1t said you have
torn my heart out | had a pistol
to your face twice but my heart
failed me | take this way of get
ting even"
Little said he never harmed
anybody and never had an enemy
as far as he knew The note
was printed on hotel stationery
with headings removed. The
family IS prostratcd.
The note is printed with lead
pencil on soft writing paper, and
declares that the writer has deep
seated cnmity for the elder Lit
tie, and that he expects through |
the kidnapping OF the boy, to pull
Mr.. Littlc's heart out of his
breast or a large amount OF mon
ey out Of his pocket"
The writer of the note declares
that unless the money is deposit
ed at 4 designaed place by spe-
Gifted time the boy will be killed.
1t further asserts that the writ
cr twice has had a gun levclcd on
n N,r Little, with the intention Of
frtiliing him.
.tcd In: conclusion Little is warned |
nrHpt to. attempt to have the writer
dof8the. note arrested if he decides
vetp.pay the money and not to have
ssaay one about when and after it !
bsidr deposited at the designated
!, pldCe,. Wh; III IS a prominent spot !
III Lexington
Tcrry Crosshc,d, son Of K. II. |
Cross6eld, president OF Transyl- |
vania College; Joe Morford, Fra
zee Wilson and Keller Little, a !
brother OF the missing boy, say
that about 80 Wednesday after
noon, as they were coming home
from school, they met stranger
who wore 4 black and white !
check suit, tan shoes, a cap. and !
amber glasses with tortoise shell
rims, who told Paul he wanted
him to carry d parcel from the
s.pestotfiCe to Il residence on North |
Broadway, and that he would. pay
z,him ST for his services. it being
=65speciiie1 that he be at the post
.oflice by 4:30 o'clock.
About 4 O'Clock while the FIVE
boys were playing marbles in
front OF the Little home. the
stranger again appeared and call
ed Paul, who left with him. The
other boys followed all the way
to the postoffice They said to-
night they were suspicious OF the
stranger.
They watched him and Paul go
into the postoffice building, and
they entered also, and stood near
a window from which they
watched the man and boy after
they had passed out of the build
ing and stood talking OH the side
walk.
The, attention of the boys was
diverted for brief period, and
when they looked out of the win
dow again the two were gone.
The boys made hurried search
i'll all directions, but could see
nothing of either of them They
went home thinking Paul would
come after he had delivered the
package.
At I o'clock, however, a Postal
messenger delivered the kidnap-
per's note at the Little home, and
the father passed an hour in con-
sultation with President Gross
field, of Pennsylvania, before it
was decided to take the case to
Chief of Police !. J. Reagan, who
is leaving nothing undone to 10
cate the boy and the man or men
who have him in custody.
Mr.. Little is a heavy dealer in
land and live stock. He comes
originally from Eastern Kentuc-
L. md 11oc ,,,oJo ., fo,-+,{,1o L., +l1o