Ogden Daily Standard | 1909-03-23 | Page 4 | Kidnaping of Little Willie Whitla

KIDNAPING OF LITTLE WILLIE WHITLA. The return of Willie Wrhltla to his parents comes as a message of joy to the homes of this country. There was not a fathor or mother with a spark of love for children who was not interested in-terested In the search for the kidnaped Willie and who did not hope for the return of the missing boy. The father of Willie wept when the tot of a boy was restored to his arms and wo dare say that at least the mothers of the country will weep with him as they read today's story of the safe delivery. Without an effort at the dramatic or tho sentimental, the Associated Press' recital of the meeting of Willie and his father is deeply Impressive and in its climax Is thrilling. The kidnapers, though they did not mistreat the boy, should be pursued until captured. Then they should bo made an example of as a lesson to others who would repeat their brutality. brutal-ity. There Is a lesson in this crime which should be learned by school teachers and boards of education. Young children should not be dismissed dismiss-ed from school on any anonymous communication com-munication and even when notes ostensibly os-tensibly signed by parents are presented pre-sented an effort should be made to confirm con-firm the message by the use of the telephone.