The Washington times., 1920-07-09

What deed is fouler than that Of
the man or woman who robs a family,
not of money or jewels, but of their
most precious possession, little son
or daughter:
An instance of official recognition
Of the iniquity OF such crime has
been manifested by the United States
Government in joining in the search
for baby Blakely Coughlin, thirteen
months old. who was kidnapped the
night OF June 2 from his crib in the
home OF his parents, Mr.. and Mrs.
George II. Coughlin. in Norristown.
Pa. Police and detectives have found
no clue to the identity of the persons
who a few moments after midnight,
entered the nursery of the Coughlin
home on Sandy Hill Road and stole
the sleeping child from his be
Parental love makes a mother or
father aware Of child's every move
or sound. Mrs. Coughlin remembers
that she heard through her drowsi-
mes of that fateful night sound as
If OF feet shuffinG across the nursery
floor" The baby's father says about
. oslock in the morning he seemd TO
hear Blakely cough family and then
subside. /. seems that the mother
arose first. called her husband, both
entering the nursery only to rind an
empty crib and ladder at the WIN
dow.
WHY WOMAN WAS SUSPECTED.
Thus was the incident of baby
Blakelys kidnapping family register
ed. Because the Child's covers had
been carefully turned back to lift him.
it was thought a woman had removed
him from his crib. The fact that he
was heard to cough might have meant
he was aroused from sleep and that
his protest was smothered with
heavy hand
The first thought of Mrs. Coughlin
was not for her own sad situation,
desperate as it was and still Is. She
gave out a statement through the
newspapers. which follows:
"Some woman must he caring for
him.
"Won't you let your mothers henrt
plead for me- now and send hin, safe
~ back TO me. All we care for Ii the
return of our little hoy. promise we
will denl directly with you. Can't you
imngihe our anauish.'
Although the bcroaved mother men,
tions her own anguish. her thought is
for the safety" of her child above
all
Mr.. Coughlin Immediately offered to
pay a ransom for the return of the
other reason tor the kidnapping If not
to get money.
FATHER THROWS AWAY $4,000.
Finally, came a note out of all the
decoy letters easily recognized as
such. George Coughlin said he be-
lieved thir letter to be genuine. and
complied with its demand to leave
ST. 600 in certain spot as the price
la
Coughlin today is minus the money
and BABY Blakely is as lost to father
and mother as he ever was.
Most people who say they Will COM
ply with the terms of q blackmailer
take along detectives, ready to grab
the thief Immediately. Coughlin
played the game in the way he had
agreed. and, as result of his abso-
lutte honesty, lost $4,000.
SO determined is the lost child's
father to put no straw in the path Of
the person who might bring back his
son. that he is keeping back much in
formation and many letters from his
attorney Major G. Townley Larzelere.
who. he thinks, might in the interest
Of his client be tempted to prod
along the police working on the case.
One fantastic theory advanced was
that a thief who entered the Coughlin
home and found u baby there took
along the little fellow to prevent his
outcry from awaking the family, and
then. having taken away the child.
didn't know what disposal to make
OF him.
1t would seem as II the magnani-
nous behavior Of George H. Cough
lin and his wife would shame even
a thief, who steals babies.
CASE or VENT CHILD.
The Coughlin case. viii recall the
incident of tho Wentz baby who was
stolen from his carriage where his
mother had left him outside of a
New York store while she was shop
ping within. Many letters and clues
were sent to Mrs. Wcntz and she in
vestiRatcd nearly all OF them. Finally
n baby was found so like her little
lost Arthur that Mrs. Wentz was over