Jasper County Democrat, Volume 8, Number 46, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 17 February 1906 — TELLS OF PAYING RANSOM IN GOLD [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

TELLS OF PAYING RANSOM IN GOLD

Edward Cudahy Gives Testimony in Trial of Pat Crowe. BAVED BOY BY PAYING $26,000 Kidnapers Had Threatened to Blind and Mutilate Their Prisoner. Father Drove to the Spot Designated at Midnight with Only One Companion and Left the Sack of Gold. Omaha. Neb.. Feb. 12.—There was a dramatic Incident in the trial of Pat Crowe on the charge of kidnaping Eddie Cudahy, when Edward ?Cudahy,

the millionaire packer, told the jury how he had saved his boy by paying s2ffi)oo in gold. “I took the money ont there,” said Mr. Cudahy. “because my boy had been kidnaped. He was in the hands of criminals. They had already committed a great crime m taking my boy from his father and mother. “I took it there because they had threatened to put out my boy’s eyes; because they had threatened to cut off his ears: because I feared they would murder him. That is the reason why I gave the money up. gentlemen, and that is the only reason. Had Never Suffered More. “I can state gentlemen, that I hav« twice had death enter my house, but I never suffered greater anxiety and grief than I did during that time that my boy was taken from me and until he was returned.” As he spoke he leaned forward in his chair and addressed himself directly to the jurors. He spoke with intense earnestness and displayed much emotion. His eyes tilled, and as he concluded his answer to Ids attorney’s question he brought down his clinched list on the arm of the chair. Mr. Cudahy told of his return home with his wife on the evening of the bey's disappearance, of their anxiety during the night, and of the finding of the kidnapers' letter on the following morning In the front yard. He win standing at the window and saw Gray, his coachman, pick It up. It was handed to him at the front door, and Mrs. Cudahy joined him as he began to rend. When he read the first sentence saying that Eddie was kidnaped the mother fainted. Determined to Pay the Money. The- letter, which gave explicit instructions for the delivery of the ransom money, together with positive threats of torture for the Imy. was discussed by Mr. Cudahy and his lawyers and the chief of police. "From the first." declared Mr. Cudahy, “I was determined to comply with the terms of the letter and to take out $25,000 as demanded for the release of my son.” Mr. Cudahy testified that In this decision be was opposed by every one else, the police and his lawyers urging that he was placing himself in great danger with no assurance that his boy would be returned. He detailed the arrangements for getting the money from the Omaha National bank and the midnight drive with it to the spot designated in the letter, accompanied only by "Paddle” McGrath, head cattle buyer for the packing company. Fixes Crowe’s Guilt. Omaha, Feb. 14.—Interest reached its height in the trial of Pat Crowe, alleged kidnaper of Eddie Cudahy, when the state sought to introduce a letter which E. A. Cudahy, Sr., testified to having received from Rev. Father Murphy, a Roman Catholic priest of Vailla. The letter was a confession, signed “Pat Crowe,” and the state sought to show by expert witnesses that the signature was written by Crowe, after examining, admitted signatures by him. The defense put forth strenuous objections, and the jury was taken from the court room while the objection to the introduction of the letter was being argued. The letter, among other things, offered to return $21,000 to Cudahy If the case against Crowe was permitted to drop.

EDWARD A. CUDAHY.