Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 41, Number 55, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 26 March 1909 — KIDNAPERS CAPTURED; MONEY RECOVERED. [ARTICLE]

KIDNAPERS CAPTURED; MONEY RECOVERED.

Two’Arrests Made at Cleveland and Police Think They Have Whitla Boy’s Abductors. Cleveland, Ohio, March filth—James Boyle is the name of the man who asstated the mysterious woman in kidnaping Willie Whitlrf. The woman has confessed the crime and states that she planned the entire affair. Both she and the man were drunk when arrested, and she talked freely and ft is believed the story she tells Is true. The man undertook to run when the officer arrested him but a shot from the revolver of the policeman brought him to a sudden stop. The penalty for abduction for the purpose of ransom In the state of Pennsylvania is life imprisonment. A man and a woman were arrested in Cleveland, Ohio, at about 11 o’clock Tuesday night whom the police and detectives believe to be the abductors of Willie Whitla, the little Sharon boy, who was recovered the day before. After the arrest the man and woman were searched and beneath the skirts of the woman was found money in the sum of $9,790, while on the man was found $58.50. Bills of goods purchased that day were found in sufficient number to account for the other money up to the SIO,OOO which is the sum Whitla is supposed to have paid the woman in Cleveland a few hours before the boy was sent -to his hotel. Both the woman and the man refused to give their names, but the woman is reported to have said: "You’ve got it now. There’ll be h to pay tn Sharon when Buhl hears of this. It’s the ransom money, all right.” Whitla could not be found at Sharon that night to be interviewed by the reporters. He'is so thankful to recover his boy unharmed that he does not want to take any chances on having the kidnapers do him further injury, which they probably have threatened to do if he lends aid to the officers in their apprehension.