User:Magnoliasouth/Cudahy ransom note

This is the ransom note, as published in the LA Times. It is possible that the ransom note has been edited by them for clarity such as grammar and spelling. Kidnapped was spelled with only a single P back then and clues were spelled clews but that's not in the letter.

Mr. Cudahy—We have kidnaped (sic) your child and demand $25,000 (twenty-five thousand dollars) for his safe return. If you give the money, the child will be returned as safe as when you last saw him, but if you refuse, we will put acid in his eyes and blind him; then we will immediately kidnap another millionaire's child that we have spotted and demand $100,000 and we will get it, for he will see the condition of your child and realize the fact that we mean business and will not be monkeyed with or captured.

Get the money all in gold, five, ten and twenty-dollar pieces, put it in a white wheat sack, get in your buggy alone on the night of December 19, at 7 o'clock p.m., and drive south from your house to Center street, then west on Center and drive back to Ruser's Park and follow the paved road toward Freemont.

When you come to a lantern that is lighted by the side of the road, place the money by the lantern and immediately turn your horse around and return home.

You will know our lantern for it will have two ribbons, black and white, tied to the handle. You must place a red lantern on your buggy where it can be plainly seen, so we will know you a mile away.

This letter and every part of it must be returned with the money and any attempt at capture will be the saddest thing you have ever done.

If you remember, some twenty years ago Charlie Ross was kidnaped (sic) in New York City and $20,000 ransom asked. Old man Ross was willing to give up the money, but Burns, the great detective, with others, persuaded the old man not to give up the money, assuring him that the thieves would be captured.

Ross died of a broken heart, sorry that he allowed the detectives to dictate to him.

This letter must not be seen by anyone but you. If the police or some stranger knew its contents they might attempt to capture us, although against your wish, or some one might use a lantern and represent us, thus the wrong party securing the money, and this would be as fatal to you as if you refused to give up the money. So you see the danger if you let this letter be seen.

Mr. Cudahy, you are up against it, and there is only one way out—give up the coin. Money we want and money we will get. If you do not give up, the next man will, for he will see that we mean business, and you can lead your boy around blind for the rest of your life, and all you will have is the copper sympathy. Do the right thing by us and we will do the same by you. If you refuse you will soon see the saddest sight you have ever seen. Wednesday, December 19. This night or never.

Follow these instructions and no harm will befall you or yours.

There is no indication here that the letter was signed Jack but the Edward Cudahy Jr. article states that it was.

I have published a link to this page in the Talk page of the Cudahy article.