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Getting Away with Kidnapping in Omaha · Nebraska History Podcast

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The following episode features a historic article from the
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Nebraska History magazine. This article may reflect the
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language and attitudes of its time and while it offers
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valuable insight into the past, may contend expressions or
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viewpoints that are outdated or offensive by today's standards.
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Any outdated terms do not reflect the current views or
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perspectives of the Nebraska State Historical Society.
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Welcome to the Nebraska History podcast.
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I'm your host, Chris Goforth. Each episode we explore articles
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written and published in Nebraska History Magazine.
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On December 18th, 1900, Pat Crowe and an associate kidnapped
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15 year old Edward A Cudahay Junior, son of a wealthy Omaha
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meat Packer, and held him for ransom for $25,000.
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Since kidnapping had been an infrequent crime, Nebraska had
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no kidnapping statute. Because of this, Crowe was tried
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and acquitted on other charges. Although many professed outrage
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at the verdicts, Crowe had become something of a folk hero.
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On this episode. We explore this crime in the
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1976 article titled A Really Spectacular and Truly named
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Desperado Pat Crowe and the Cudahy Kidnapping by Garnet
1:04
Oldencamp Peterson. The early years of the 20th
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century have been pictured as happy, lazy years, a time of
1:11
simple and uncomplicated life. Among the idyllic recollections
1:15
are band concerts in the square, bicycle rides on a tandem with a
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sweetheart, and afternoons spent cheering the local baseball
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team. But like all memories, the
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picture given us of the first decade of this century is
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distorted. A closer look at this period
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reveals facets often overlooked. 1 was the violence of everyday
1:38
life. On December 22nd, 1900, the
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headlines of one newspapers front page screamed in cowshed
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with throat cut. Schoolgirl hangs herself, War
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Office auditor murdered, and even a single paragraph article
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was headlined Death and burglary.
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Such headlines were not exceptional, but daily
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occurrences and their frequency seemed to point to an interest
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in crime by most readers. As the only important
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information agency, newspapers wielded great influence.
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In 1900, Omaha had three daily newspapers which mirrored its
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expanding Commerce and Industry. Through Omaha, a railroad center
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since the 1870s, moved the agricultural products and
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manufactured goods of the Midwest.
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By the turn of the century, Omaha grew rapidly as great
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numbers of immigrants, Germans from Russia, Italians, Czechs,
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and others, moved into the city. Earlier immigrant groups, Irish,
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Germans, Scandinavians, found jobs in one of Omaha's major
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industries, such as in packing plants or on railroads.
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By 1900, urban growth produced class divisions between labor
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and management. Although workers were not fixed
2:53
in a rigid class structure, only about 1/4 of them in 1900 could
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hope to advance to white collar status.
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Within the previous 25 years, men such as John D Rockefeller
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and Andrew Carnegie built their fortunes and earned for
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themselves the title of robber barons.
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As frontier cities of the West attracted industry and gained an
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urban character, the process of division into owner and worker
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continued. Omaha's transportation and meat
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packing industries brought in transients and some unsavory
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characters. With the number of people moving
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in and out of the city, the incidence of crime increased.
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On the night of December 18th, 1900, a crime took place that
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shocked Omaha and raised interest across the United
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States and ne'er do well named Pat Crow and an associate
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kidnapped Edward A Cudahy Junior, son of a wealthy Omaha
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meat Packer, and held him for a $25,000 ransom.
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This crime had a greater impact on the average citizen than did
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most crimes because it evoked sympathy for a boy of 15
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snatched from his family by criminals.
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Prior to the kidnapping, Pat Crowe already had behind him a
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string of crimes and flamboyant escapes, with one characteristic
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to all of them his steady nerve under pressure.
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He had started in the butcher business in 1886 at the age of
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17 after coming to Omaha from his parents farm near Vail, IA.
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Crow and his business partner Kavanaugh allowed their working
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class customers to fall behind on their bills.
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Their little butcher shop closed when it could not survive
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competition from a CUDA hay retail outlet.
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Crow vowed to make the wealthy CUDA Hay quote pay for this
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someday and pay well. End Quote.
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Not yet 20 years old, Pat ended up working in the Cudahy retail
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store. He quickly discovered how easy
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it was to borrow money from the till, a habit which cost him his
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job. From that time on, Pat and Crime
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were companions. Intending to start another
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butcher shop in Davenport, IA, Pat went to Chicago to buy
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tools. His trip ended in a brothel.
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When he awoke the next day, he found his $750 gone.
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He retaliated by robbing the Madam of a sum greater than he
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lost. He continued in crime in Denver
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and Kansas City, stealing diamonds worth $6000.
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By 1892, Crow relocated in Philadelphia, where he first
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heard about the unsolved kidnapping of Charlie Ross.
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New York City police had convinced young Ross's father to
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withhold the ransom and allow the police to find the boy.
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Crow spent a profitable summer in Philadelphia and in New
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Jersey seaside resorts robbing summer guests, but the Ross
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story continued to intrigue him. He vowed to gain revenge on
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Edward Cudahy, although revenge was probably secondary to profit
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by this time. Pat returned to the Midwest but
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did not implement the long considered plan until 1900.
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On the evening of December 18th, young Eddie Cudahy left his home
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at 518 S 37th St. to return some books to Misses CB Rustin at her
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home three blocks away. When Edward Cudahy and his wife
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returned from an evening with friends about 10:00, they
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expressed surprise that their son had not yet returned.
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Cudahy was dismayed to learn from the Rustin's that Eddie had
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left their home promptly after delivering the books.
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Worry increased when Eddie's collie dog returned home alone.
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This indicated the boy must have left the neighborhood in a
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streetcar or other vehicle, for the dog always waited outside a
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house if his master stopped. Cudahy called the police at 12 O
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clock midnight, whereupon Chief of Police JJ Donohue decided
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Eddie had been kidnapped. Melville Sears, Cudahy's
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attorney, organized search parties and alerted hospitals
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and railroad stations to watch for the boy.
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Kudahay told police to quote, spare no expense in their quest.
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End Quote. He telegraphed Chicago
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requesting the aid of Pinkerton detectives.
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Various theories on Eddie's whereabouts arose.
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The Omaha Evening World Herald described Kudahay as a quote,
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quiet, industrious boy of the best habits.
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End Quote. And Edward Cudahy believed his
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son would quote never 'cause his mother so much trouble by
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straying away without his consent.
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End Quote. The police put Eddie's friends
7:39
under surveillance. One boy had been seen at 56th
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and Center streets, the extreme limits of the city, the previous
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evening. A companion, presumably Eddie,
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had been seen with him. This heightened concern because
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places of bad repute were located in that area.
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The kidnapping theory proved true on the morning of the 19th
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when Andrew Gray, a Cudahay coachman, found a ransom note on
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the family lawn. Shortly thereafter, Cudahay
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received a phone call from a man who asked if the note had been
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found. Cudahay had the call traced to
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Glenn's livery stable on Leavenworth St.
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The police failed to apprehend the caller, but Frank Glenn
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described the caller and the Bay pony.
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He rode. The police only allowed a small
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portion of the note to appear in the newspapers.
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Quote Mr. EA CUDA. Hey, your son is safe.
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We have him and we'll take good care of him and we'll return him
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to you in consideration of the payment of $25,000.
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We mean business, Jack. End Quote.
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The full note described the location for delivery of the
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ransom, and it contained a threat to blind Eddie with acid
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if the directions were unheated. Written so as to quote Harrow
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the feelings of his parents and quote, the note recalled the
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unsolved case of Charlie Ross and threatened the same fate for
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Eddie if the money demands were not met.
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In retrospect, one of the most interesting aspects of the case
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concerned its newspaper treatment.
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The Omaha Daily News gave the straightest report, running the
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story in column one, page one with the conservative headline.
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The Omaha Daily Bee ran A1 column story, although the Bee
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generally supplied more information than the news.
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The Evening World Herald, the most zealous, frequently placed
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stories in both the right and left hand columns, with extra
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large headlines throughout the case.
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The World Herald, obviously setting out to sell papers,
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printed every rumor, every clue and related incident.
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The suspense over the kidnapping did not last long.
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By December 20th, Eddie had been returned home safely.
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The World Herald announced in headlines that the kidnapping
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resembled a thrilling novel and that Eddie had been seized,
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bound, and chained a floor of cottage.
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Eddie's description of his captivity sounded tame in
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comparison to the headlines, as one who quote apparently
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suffered least from this terrible experience.
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End Quote. Eddie appeared to the World
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Herald reporters as happy with all and perfectly enjoying the
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sensation of which he was the peace de resistance.
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Eddie had returned home shortly after one O clock AM December
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20th, approximately 30 hours after the kidnapping occurred.
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He explained that he had been walking home from the Rust
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Insurance when two men approached him posing as
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sheriff's from Say's County. They accused him of being Eddie
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McGee, an escaped reform school inmate who had stolen money from
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his aunt. Although Eddie protested that
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his name was Kudahay, the two would not let him go, claiming
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he had to be identified by the sheriff.
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The three traveled South by buggy on 37th St. until they
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reached Leavenworth St. where Eddie saw a streetcar whose
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conductor could identify him. Eddie told this to his captors,
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who immediately blindfolded the boy and turned West on
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Leavenworth. They traveled variously on rough
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roads and paved roads until Eddie surmised that they were
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somewhere in South Omaha. He pointed out that quote.
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Two or three whiffs from the packing house district assured
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me that my conjuncture was correct.
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End Quote. The group soon arrived at the
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captivity house where the two men LED Eddie up rickety stairs
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to a room with no furniture. His captors fastened leg irons
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on his ankles to keep him from escaping.
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Eddie said he laid down for about 5 hours and attempted to
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sleep, but his nerves were too badly shattered to permit of it.
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He was giving coffee and crackers by a guard who was
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drinking heavily, and he said that the guard became garrulous
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after six or seven hours and that, quote, his talk rambled
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the weather from drink or design, I could not say.
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End Quote. The guard spoke with a strong
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Irish brogue, and from his conversation Eddie gathered that
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six men made-up the gang. One man who came from Mexico and
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Denver was, quote, an expert in the kidnapping business.
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End Quote The guard said his partners really wanted to kidnap
12:19
Eddie's sisters, but were unsuccessful and settled for the
12:22
boy. On Wednesday, the guard became
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angry when a partner who had gone to pick up the ransom
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returned with $5000, pleading that he fell into a Creek and
12:33
lost $20,000. Soon afterward, the men brought
12:37
Eddie to 36th and Leavenworth, where his guard threatened to
12:40
shoot his partner if the money was not divided fairly.
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After removing his blindfold, Eddie ran home.
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Meanwhile, Edward Cudahy had been making plans to comply with
12:51
the instructions in the note. Chief Donahue and the Cudahy
12:55
attorneys urged him not to meet the demands because the
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kidnappers might fail to return Eddie even if they had the
13:02
money. But Cudahy felt confident the
13:05
men meant business and that afternoon sent Melville Sears to
13:09
the Omaha National Bank for $25,000 in gold.
13:14
Placed in a bank grip inside a white wheat sack, the money was
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taken 5 miles out on West Center Rd. at 7.
13:21
PMA. Lantern tied with black and
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white ribbons marked the drop off point.
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Although Cudahy did not mention it at first, he later admitted
13:30
he was not alone. As specified, he was accompanied
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by PJ McGrath, a livestock buyer at the South Omaha packing
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plant. Kudahay enclosed the ransom note
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with the money, as the kidnappers had demanded, and a
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letter of his own in which he, quote, called attention to the
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fact that he had complied with their requests and demands to
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the very letter and expected them to keep their part of the
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bargain. End Quote.
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The two returned home about 9:30 PM.
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Kudahay suggested that the two police officers on duty at the
14:01
house stay out of sight to avoid scaring off any messengers or
14:05
persons returning. Eddie The officers adjourned to
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the barn behind the house and missed the excitement, not
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realizing Eddie returned until Cudahay told them at 1:15 AM.
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Newspapers reported some interesting contradictions on
14:20
December 20th and 21st. Attorney Melville Sears stated
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there was absolutely no truth in the story that Cudahay drove out
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to the city last night in a carriage with a red light
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attached to it and paid the ransom.
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Cudahy's story appeared immediately below that
14:37
interview, recounting his trip and the fact that he did pay the
14:41
ransom. The account left Sears red faced
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and the next day he explained that he knew of the ransom
14:47
payment, but not that the story could be made public.
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Another discrepancy concerned Missus Cudahy's opinion of the
14:54
police. She doubted, quote, whether the
14:57
police are not in standing with the criminals.
15:00
End Quote. The report claimed the captors
15:03
were informed of police action and so informed Eddie.
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Missus Cudahy supposedly stated that she would, quote, like to
15:11
see them the criminals hung and would be willing to pull on the
15:15
rope. End Quote.
15:17
Edward Cudahy, discounting such fiery statements, said quote,
15:21
Missus Cudahy believes nothing of the kind.
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There are some features of journalism that ought to be
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discouraged, and 1:00 of which this assertation is based, is
15:30
one of them. End Quote.
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In the attempts to capitalize on the Cudahy story, the newspapers
15:36
built up rivalries. The News reported that Chief
15:40
Donahue knew the criminals involved and could, quote, put
15:43
them under arrest at any time if Mr. Cudahy wishes.
15:46
End Quote. The B followed with a statement
15:49
from Chief Donahue calling the news report absolutely false.
15:54
Kudahay felt it was quote, his duty to prosecute the scandals
15:57
to the fullest extent of the law and quote and on December 21st
16:00
offered $5000 for the arrest and conviction of any one of the
16:05
kidnappers, 15,000 for two and $25,000 for three.
16:10
If indeed three men were involved in the case, Kudahay
16:14
promised he would leave no stone unturned in his efforts to make
16:17
things too hot for them around Omaha.
16:21
The World Herald and the News reported that the police sought
16:24
Pat Crow because a reputable citizen who knew Crow remembered
16:29
that Pat had discussed kidnapping a child of wealthy
16:32
parents and demanding ransom. Because the citizen did not know
16:36
the contents of the ransom note, the informants tip pointed to
16:40
Crow. Police continued searching for
16:43
the house in South Omaha where Eddie had been held and the
16:46
horse and buggy used to transport him.
16:49
After locating the house, they plan to secure descriptions from
16:52
neighbors of any strangers seen in the area.
16:55
Chief Donahue explained why the police did not lie in wait for
16:58
the thieves near the Lantern in the country.
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They believed capture of the kidnappers only a secondary
17:04
goal, the first being Eddie's safe return.
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Donahue further stated that the Police Department did quote
17:11
nothing that was not in compliance with Mr. Cudahy's
17:14
wishes, End Quote, and felt Cudahy judged wisely in paying
17:18
the ransom. Chicago police did not agree,
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charging Cudahy with setting a dangerous precedent and
17:25
predicting a series of sensational kidnapping cases
17:28
would follow. They contended that eventually,
17:31
quote, rich men will have to employ servants to act as
17:33
bodyguards for their young ones, End Quote.
17:36
This fear was evident in Omaha, and several wealthy families did
17:40
hire private detectives. On December 22nd, a search party
17:46
located the Captivity House in a lonesome locality at 36 O 4
17:51
Grover St. in South Omaha. Eddie identified the house by
17:55
the broken stair steps and by articles strewn about the room.
18:00
Searchers found cigar stubs and burnt matches, as well as sugar
18:03
and coffee in a well bucket from which Eddie drank.
18:07
Tacks used to fasten newspapers over the windows remained on the
18:11
sills. The police obtained descriptions
18:13
of strange men seen in the area. BK Munshaw and his daughter
18:18
Maude of 3640 Grover St. reported a light complexioned
18:21
man with blonde hair had asked about the house 2 weeks before.
18:26
The Munshaw's statement LED police to the owners of the
18:28
house, the James Schneiderwinds. Misses Schneiderwind had spoken
18:32
with a light complexioned man who gave the alias James L
18:36
Connor the name of Crow's brother-in-law and rented the
18:40
house for $6 a month. These statements brought Pat
18:44
Crow firmly into the case. The World Herald described Crow
18:48
as quote, one of the most picturesque criminals in the
18:50
country because of his daring and the magnitude of his
18:53
adventures. End Quote.
18:56
Since the beginning of the Cudahy affair, the World Herald
18:58
had taken every opportunity to mention any failure of the
19:02
Police Department under the heading of Police Are Amusing.
19:06
The paper gleefully reported the scare the reporters had given
19:09
Chief Donahue Cudahy and the search party when they arrived
19:13
at the captivity house. The reporters had been inside
19:16
when one startled Chief Donahue struggled to draw his revolver,
19:20
according to the World Herald quote.
19:22
Had the reporter been in the bandits shoes with a firm grip
19:25
of his gold and the other with a loaded revolver, the chief would
19:29
have been A trifle slow in getting his eye over the muzzle
19:32
of his revolver. End Quote.
19:35
The police chief, it developed found out about the house
19:38
through a boy who had seen reporters there earlier.
19:42
The newspaper criticized the chief for inactivity.
19:45
While the bandits, quote, passed through the highways and byways
19:48
of the well protected city of Omaha and quote, General John C
19:52
Corwin, another could a he attorney exasperated matters
19:55
between police and the press by publishing special thanks to the
19:58
World Herald reporters quote. There is no better detective in
20:02
the world than the sharp, shrewd, energetic, ubiquitous
20:05
newspaper man and quote. Perhaps the World Herald report
20:08
was biased, but the News also credited 2 reporters with
20:12
locating the house and said the Police Department failed to
20:15
uncover substantial clues. On Christmas Day delivery
20:20
Stables Bay Pony, ridden by the deliverer of the ransom note,
20:24
was located in Pacific Junction, IA, 20 miles southeast of Omaha.
20:28
The police tried to bring the pony to Omaha, but Pacific
20:31
Junction residents refused to release it unless paid the
20:34
reward for producing evidence. John F Code, a Pacific Junction
20:39
farmer, supposedly brought the news of the horse to Omaha.
20:43
This item caused conflict between the World Herald and
20:46
other Omaha newspapers. Both the News and the Bee
20:49
credited Code with reporting the story to police.
20:53
The World Herald, however, charged the Bee with stealing
20:56
news from the World Herald and creating a fictitious John Code
21:00
in order to raise circulation. Code was real, however, reports
21:05
on him not only appear in the Bee but also in the News.
21:09
The Word Herald made another accusation on December 23rd.
21:12
Both the Bee and the News reported descriptions of the
21:15
kidnappers given by August Schlemm, a farmer on Grover St.
21:20
The World Herald charged that he was also mythical, a creation of
21:24
a reporter looking for a scoop. When the newspapers battled for
21:29
premacy, someone discovered that no Nebraska law covered the
21:34
Cudahy crime. Oddly enough, the New York Times
21:38
had more to say on the question than the Omaha newspapers.
21:41
Kidnapping in Nebraska, it said, carried a sentence ranging from
21:45
two to seven years, applicable only when the intent was to
21:49
transport the victim out of the state.
21:52
Another Nebraska offense, child stealing, applied only to the
21:56
abduction of children under 10 years of age.
21:59
The only charge the police seem to have against the Coulda Hey
22:03
kidnapper was false imprisonment, a misdemeanor
22:06
subject only to a fine and jail sentence.
22:09
At the discovery of this omission, senators introduced
22:12
corrective bills in the state legislature.
22:15
Senator Frank T Ransom of Omaha introduced a bill providing life
22:19
imprisonment for extortionists and death for threats or actual
22:23
injuries to the victim. Senator Nathan V Harlan's bill
22:27
set punishment from 1:00 to 20 years for the abduction of a
22:31
child under 18. Both bills became law on March
22:35
30th. 19 O1 police alternately searched for clues and parried
22:40
criticism for inactivity. 1 critic said the Nader of police
22:45
prestige occurred when 2 farm boys had found the Lantern used
22:50
by the kidnappers to signal Cudahy.
22:52
The Bee termed it quote an interesting addition to the
22:56
abduction museum in the chief's office, which is growing
22:59
rapidly. End Quote.
23:01
Meanwhile, in Pacific Junction, a quarrel had developed over
23:05
ownership of the pony. Both Joseph Goodrich and Misses
23:09
Bertha Mack claim possession of the animal.
23:12
Since Goodrich held the pony, Misses Mack took the issue to
23:15
court. A Pacific Junction judge would
23:17
not allow the horse moved without a $100 deposit.
23:22
Chief Donahue charged that that there seemed to be a steady
23:25
effort to impede in the case. Reports of Pat Crowe came in
23:31
from everywhere. He was supposedly seen in
23:33
Chicago on an ocean liner at Nantucket Beach, Rhode Island,
23:38
and in St. Joseph, MO Chief Donahue felt
23:41
Crowe was too well known in Saint Joseph to hide there
23:44
successfully. Both Chief Donahue and the
23:47
Cudahy family received crank letters daily.
23:50
Some letter writers claimed to have been involved were denied a
23:54
share of the ransom money and would turn informant for a
23:57
price. The newspapers gave most
24:00
attention to the Eloise T letters, so-called because of
24:05
their signatures, which taunted the police for failure to solve
24:08
the case. The Daily News ridiculed the
24:11
police for their attempt to bring the pony to Omaha,
24:14
questioning the value of the action.
24:17
If the pony went unclaimed, it could surmise the kidnappers
24:21
were owners, and possessing the horse in any event had little to
24:24
do with solving the mystery surrounding the abductors.
24:28
If someone claimed the pony, it will likewise be settled that
24:31
the pony did not belong to the abductors.
24:34
Another important bit of evidence in front page
24:37
editorial. A few days later, the paper
24:40
asked do they really want Pat Crow?
24:43
The editorial said police did not seem to be trying to find
24:46
Pat and had used him as a scapegoat because they had no
24:50
leads, which cast doubt upon the sincerity of the police in
24:54
hunting for him. The paper ridiculed Chief
24:57
Donahue and said he would probably be flustered completely
25:01
if Crow appeared to prove his innocence.
25:05
Meanwhile, $100 was pledged to bring the pony from Pacific
25:09
Junction. The police plan to search for
25:12
the Smith who shot it in hopes of getting a description of the
25:15
horse's owner. Joseph Goodrich of Pacific
25:18
Junction threatened to prevent the movement of the mount across
25:22
the state line. Fortunately, Goodrich waited in
25:25
Council Bluffs where BF Warren 1, owner of the horse, rode it
25:28
over the East Omaha Bridge Farther N on New Year's Day,
25:32
after the exhausting ride from Pacific Junction, the horse
25:35
required the services of a veterinarian.
25:38
On January 30th, news of yet another threatening letter to
25:42
the CUDA Hayes shocked the community.
25:44
On January 30th, news of yet another threatening letter to
25:48
the CUDA Hayes shocked the community.
25:51
Delivered by the postman rather than by Ryder, The letter or a
25:54
postmark of December 22nd. CUDA Hay had withheld any news
25:58
of the letter at first, but finally it was released to the
26:01
press. Quote Kuda Hey, if you value the
26:04
boy's life at the price of a bullet, you will withdraw the
26:07
reward at once and let well enough alone.
26:10
If you don't do this, we will finish the job with a bullet.
26:13
If any man, whether guilty or innocent, is ever arrested, a
26:17
bullet will close the boy's mouth.
26:19
You think this a warning when it's too late.
26:22
End Quote. The letter failed to deter Kuda
26:25
Hey, who stated he had quote not withdrawn the reward and did not
26:28
propose to End Quote. The Omaha City Council called a
26:32
special session to set its own reward for the criminals.
26:36
The council asked Cudahay to withdraw his reward for his
26:39
family's safety. They in turn would set up one to
26:42
take its place. The council offered $8000 for
26:46
the arrest and conviction of one of the criminals, 15,000 for
26:50
two, and $25,000 for three. Cudahay announced his reward
26:56
withstand, thereby bringing the total to $50,000.
27:01
Unsolicited, Brigadier General Anson Mills of Washington, DC
27:05
added another 500 to the fund. The council even plan to ask the
27:10
county and the governor to offer rewards.
27:13
The council felt it must act believing that the eyes of the
27:16
world were turned on Omaha. The first months of 19 O1
27:22
brought a continuation of the crank letters and reports of
27:25
Crow. It was reported to be on
27:28
Bellevue Island in Creston, IA, and on a steamer, Dudley, bound
27:33
for Honduras near Shatter, Nebraska.
27:36
A man was trailed to the Pine Ridge Reservation of South
27:39
Dakota where he was discovered to be a Boston curio collector.
27:44
Police arrested John Crowe, Pat's brother, from Council
27:48
Bluffs, but released him when Eddie Cudahy could not identify
27:51
him. A hypnotist offered his
27:54
services. The chief felt he may do some
27:57
good. Reporters in jest said that some
28:00
people say the hypnotist may have begun operations on the
28:03
chief. The first breakthrough occurred
28:07
on February 19th with the arrest of James Callahan of Omaha as
28:11
Crow's accomplice. Callahan had worked for CUDA
28:15
Hayes at one time. Suspicion turned to him because
28:18
he was seen with Crow prior to the kidnapping and had spent
28:22
freely since the crime. His previous criminal record
28:26
consisted only of several petite larceny cases, but police knew
28:31
him as a member of the Q street gang.
28:34
He was described as a typical hobo with a swagger and a
28:38
slipshod shuffle, and Eddie could have readily identified
28:42
him as his talkative guard, with the Irish brogue remarking that
28:46
he could quote pick him out of 1000.
28:48
End Quote. The charges brought against
28:51
Callahan included false imprisonment, grand larceny in
28:54
robbery, and bond for each crime was set at $2500.
29:00
The trial began on April 23rd Eddie Cudahaye and his father
29:04
served as witnesses along with Callahan himself.
29:07
Although under examination for two hours while the prosecuting
29:10
attorneys questions came, quote, with the rapidity of balls from
29:14
a Gatling gun and quote, Callahan consistently claimed he
29:18
was in Arf's saloon the evening of the kidnapping, The judge
29:23
charged the jury to determine whether Callahan robbed Edward
29:26
Cudahy by putting fear in him and thereby forcing him to give
29:31
up the money for fear of his son's welfare.
29:34
The jury returned a not guilty verdict for Callahan.
29:39
When the overjoyed prisoner asked permission to thank the
29:41
jurors, the judge retorted that the jurors, quote, did not
29:44
deserve any thanks. End Quote.
29:47
The judge proceeded to show his disgust by stating that he could
29:50
not conceive of 12 intelligent men returning a verdict of this
29:54
kind. He continued his statement by
29:57
pointing out that juries should protect people and society, not
30:01
make heroes of men who prey upon people and upon their property.
30:07
He then discharged the 12 without the compliments of the
30:10
court, adding that he hoped that they would never be called again
30:13
to serve as jurors. Men such as Edward Cudahy echoed
30:18
the judges sentiments of the verdict, remarking that it was
30:21
incomprehensible that 12 men would wholly ignore such
30:25
convincing evidence. Chief Donahue felt very much
30:29
chagrined at the verdict and suggested the rewards be dropped
30:33
so there would be no inductment of any witnesses to stretch his
30:36
testimony. Callahan remained in custody,
30:41
although he could not be tried on the other charges because of
30:43
acquittal on the robbery charge. The court later charged him with
30:47
seven counts of perjury in the robbery trial, but a jury again
30:51
found him not guilty. Soon after the Callahan trial,
30:57
Cudahy received a letter from Elgin, IL, this time from an
31:01
agent of the kidnapper. The letter offered to return
31:05
$21,000 if Cudahy would withdraw his $25,000 reward.
31:10
The letter intrigued Cudahy, who went to Chicago to deal with the
31:15
agent. Kudahaye eventually refused to
31:18
withdraw the offer, claiming he would spend his last $1000
31:22
rather than compromise. The only word of Pat Crowe
31:26
during the summer of 19 O1 surfaced in July when the New
31:29
York Times reported him in South Africa fighting in the Boer War.
31:34
Crowe had sent a payment of $250 to a St.
31:37
Joseph, MO, lawyer who once defended him on a robbery
31:40
charge, and the letter bore a Johannesburg postmark.
31:44
In October, Crowe contacted Chief Donahue through a
31:48
messenger, promising to surrender if the $50,000 reward
31:52
was withdrawn and his bond reduced to $500.
31:56
Crowe reasoned there would be less chance of witnesses
32:00
manufacturing incidents in order to gain part of the reward.
32:04
Finally, Edward Cudahy in the city withdrew their rewards, but
32:08
no judge would release Crowe at a $500 bond.
32:12
The Des Moines capital, especially critical of the
32:15
police, commented that even though the public was not
32:18
supposed to be able to understand the workings of
32:21
officers of the law, the thick headed public will persist in
32:25
wondering who this individual is who can saunter back and forth
32:29
as this special messenger of Pat Crowe.
32:33
The capital wanted to take advantage of the messenger to
32:35
trace Crow and quote, took little stock in the practice of
32:38
compromising with thugs and quote.
32:41
The plan called for Crow to surrender by November 1st.
32:45
When he failed to appear. The World Herald observed that
32:48
Crow had succeeded in having the price on his head withdrawn,
32:52
allowing him to meander about the country feeling some $50,000
32:57
safer. The Herald believed most widely
33:00
advertised and persistently haunted fugitive of many
33:03
generations to be hiding in Omaha, and said his exchange of
33:07
courtesies with the Omaha police is apartment to pass down into
33:10
history as one of the most humorous passages in the annals
33:14
of crime. The Daily News pointed out that
33:17
although Crow was dangerous, 1 cannot but respect the infinite
33:21
genius of the man. He is a character unique in
33:24
criminal annals. Crowe suddenly turned up in
33:28
Omaha in the spring of 19 O 5 and gave an exclusive interview
33:33
to a World Herald reporter. He was quote weary of living as
33:38
a fugitive and anxious to begin a new life and quote and really
33:42
meant to reform. Crowe offered to give himself
33:46
up, but would not admit involvement in the kidnapping.
33:49
Once free, he planned to enter the saloon business, believing
33:53
it the only occupation in which he could stand to show of
33:56
success. Nothing came of the interview.
34:00
He slipped into Omaha, made his plea for sympathy, but slipped
34:03
out quietly again. Chief Donahue personally offered
34:06
a reward of $200 for the arrest and delivery of Pat Crowe to the
34:10
Police Department. Crowe became a suspect again in
34:14
July of 19 O 5 when gunman robbed 2 Council Bluffs street
34:18
cars of about $50. A man fitting Crow's description
34:23
had been observed in the nearby house.
34:25
Crowe appeared in Omaha on September 6th, 19 O 5 and
34:29
wounded Patrolman AH Jackson in a gunfight on S 16th St. while
34:35
outside a saloon. Crowe and his brother-in-law
34:37
Frank Murphy had seen four out of uniformed policeman
34:40
approaching and a shootout resulted.
34:43
After wounding Jackson, Pat again escaped.
34:48
Finally, on October 2nd, 19 O 5, outside a saloon in the
34:52
Tenderloin section of Butte, Mt, detectives nabbed Crow.
34:57
He put up no fight but quote cursed bitterly, expressing
35:01
chagrin at his arrest in a town the size of Butte.
35:04
End Quote. Everyone wanted to see the
35:07
famous kidnapper. Women even brought him fruits
35:11
and flowers. Crow enjoyed his notoriety and
35:14
told the jailer to let all visitors in to see him since
35:17
quote, he did not know when he would again come to Butte.
35:21
End Quote. The wily bandit chose not to
35:24
fight extradition and soon left for Omaha with 15,000 people at
35:29
the station to see him depart and with the curious at many
35:32
stations on route. The Omaha Daily News sent a
35:36
correspondent to cover Crow's return.
35:39
Crowds were so large at Rawlings, Wyoming, that
35:42
detectives were forced to almost fight their way to the hotel
35:45
with their prisoner. In Green River, WY, the sheriff
35:48
of Sweetwater County boarded the train and rode to Rock Springs
35:52
to become acquainted with the man he considered the most
35:54
famous outlaw in America. At North Platte, a resident
35:58
claimed Crow attracted quote more attention than President
36:02
Roosevelt did. End Quote.
36:04
Unaccountably, the estimated crowd of 300 in Omaha appeared
36:08
almost subdued, although some chanted Hooray for Pat Crowe at
36:12
his arrival. Pat faced trial December of 19 O
36:16
5 for shooting with intent to kill or wound Officer Jackson in
36:21
the battle on 16th St. The four day trial ended in
36:24
Crowe's acquittal because the court could not determine who
36:28
fired 1st and therefore whether or not Crowe had shot in
36:32
self-defense. Crow's trial for robbery from
36:36
Edward Cudahy of $25,000 by putting him in fear began in
36:40
Douglas County District Court in February 19 O 6 JP English, and
36:46
AS Ritchie served as Crow's attorneys in choosing the jury,
36:51
County Attorney WW Slabaugh asked each juror whether or not
36:56
the fact that Mister Cudahy was reputed to be very wealthy would
37:00
have any influence on the final judgement of the case.
37:04
At the same time Crow was on trial in Omaha for robbery,
37:07
Edward Cudahy and other meat Packers were being tried in
37:10
Chicago under a restraint of trade charge.
37:14
Slobaugh saw that under the circumstances, a jury of
37:17
labouring men in the Crow trial would be unfavorable to Kudahy.
37:22
Slobaugh's questioning failed to secure the type of jury he
37:25
desired, however. He faced essentially a working
37:28
man's jury consisting of men from such varied occupations as
37:33
a packing house employee, sign painter, delivery clerk, and
37:36
cigar dealer. Edward Cudahy took the stand and
37:40
became quite emotional in his recalling of the story.
37:44
He stated that he gave up the money for his son because,
37:46
quote, they have threatened to burn out his eyes with acid and
37:50
cut his ears off, and I was afraid that he would be
37:53
murdered. End Quote.
37:55
Eddie Cudahy also testified, but there have been quite a change
37:59
in his appearance. No longer little Eddie the
38:02
kidnap victim. He had grown over 6 feet tall
38:06
with a base voice as big as its professor and the appearance of
38:10
being entirely able to give any kidnapper quite an argument
38:14
before reaching any basis of compromise.
38:17
In the course of his testimony, Eddie recalled his guards threat
38:20
to shoot his partner if he did not get his fair share of the
38:23
money. At this statement, Crow quote,
38:26
could not keep his face straight and covered it with his hand for
38:29
a minute or so to conceal his very evident amusement.
38:32
End Quote. Various other witnesses involved
38:36
in the case testified, but no one could be certain of Crow's
38:39
identity. After a hiatus of five years,
38:42
eventually the case worked down to the details of the pony and
38:46
the Lantern, which the News fictitiously reported.
38:51
Albert Iyers, who owned the pony when it died, explained that the
38:54
animal staggered, then finally laid down and pointed its toes
38:58
toward Pacific Junction, gave up its spirit.
39:03
The prosecution introduced perhaps the most important
39:06
evidence of the trial on February 13th.
39:09
Crowe had written a letter to his family priest, a Father
39:12
Murphy of Vail, IA in 19 O 4IN which he had asked the priest to
39:17
intercede for him with the CUDA Haze.
39:20
In the letter, Pat confessed his guilt in the kidnapping and
39:23
asked for a chance to start a new life.
39:26
Pro recalled that he had shown quote mercy to the rich and
39:29
mighty when they were in my power.
39:31
End Quote, probably referring to the Coulda Hey kidnapping.
39:35
He also testified that he had attempted to return $21,000 of
39:39
the ransom money and offer Coulda Hey rejected Crowe wanted
39:44
to plead guilty and have his sentence suspended or relieve
39:47
himself of quote, the burden that is crushing out the last
39:51
ray of happiness in my waste of life and quote.
39:55
A legal battle arose over whether the letter could be
39:57
admitted to the court. The defense claimed that the
40:00
letter was a privileged communication between a church
40:03
member and his priest. The court, however, eventually
40:06
ruled in favor of the prosecution because Crowe had
40:09
been seeking earthly, not spiritual, relief and wanted the
40:12
priest to serve as an intermediary in a business
40:15
transaction. The confession letter so
40:18
satisfied Slabaugh that he dismissed several important
40:21
witnesses and allowed the case to go to the jury.
40:24
Each attorney finished with involved closing remarks.
40:28
Assistant County Attorney FW Fitch urged the jurors to bring
40:32
in a verdict that would, quote, be a credit to them in the
40:36
afterlife and the state of Nebraska.
40:39
End Quote. Most memorable were the remarks
40:42
of defense attorney, AS Ritchie, a writer, later referred to the
40:45
speech as an old fashioned 2 hour oration that crackled with
40:50
such words as irrefragable, chimerical and animativert and
40:55
touched on the history of law, the Catholic Church, Martin
40:58
Luther, Old Glory and Abraham Lincoln.
41:02
But Richie's main attack centered on Cudahy as a wealthy
41:05
businessman and his connection with the Beef Trust trial in
41:08
Chicago. Richie's harangue may have been
41:12
the deciding factor. On February 16th, the jury found
41:16
Pat Crowe not guilty of robbery. The Overfield courtroom
41:21
applauded the verdict, causing Judge AL Sutton to clear the
41:24
court and announce his surprise. Quote that such cheering should
41:28
follow the announcement of the acquittal of a notorious
41:31
criminal. End Quote.
41:33
Newspapers printed comments from townspeople that resembled those
41:36
of the judge and reflected the social class of those
41:39
interviewed. Men asked to comment included
41:42
the mayor, attorneys, insurance agent, druggist, furrier, county
41:47
assessor and the Superintendent of Associated Charities.
41:51
Of the 44 people asked to comment, 31 expressed surprise
41:55
at the verdict and felt it an outrage.
41:57
A women's group also met to protest their indignation in
42:01
protestation of the acquittal verdict.
42:03
Although the report specified that the meeting concerned all
42:06
Omaha women and not club women exclusively, the list of
42:10
officers chosen reflected the more well to do of the city.
42:14
Chief Donahue in high temper did not conceal his contempt for the
42:19
jurors, stating it was a pity that no law existed to prosecute
42:22
them for neglect of their duty and send them all to jail for
42:27
what in so high a position in the city.
42:28
The chief was clearly undiplomatic in expressing his
42:32
beliefs on the case. Attorneys of the city banded
42:35
together an attempt to keep the men of the Crow jury off any
42:39
other cases, calling their verdict a travesty of justice.
42:43
And one well known businessman charged Crow's acquittal to
42:46
yellow journalism, pointing out that, quote, these papers have
42:50
made him out to be a hero. End Quote.
42:53
One citizen felt certain the verdict showed the growing
42:56
spirit of socialism. Many believe the jury voted
43:00
against Cudahy because of the feelings against the Beef trust.
43:04
The World Herald commented that the jury saw Crow as a modern
43:07
Robin Hood, with Cudahy in the role of the modern Baron.
43:11
Indeed, class consciousness seemed to be at the heart of the
43:15
matter. One person asked to comment on
43:17
the Crow acquittal, replied quote.
43:19
It was nothing more than we could expect from the jury,
43:22
composed as it was largely of laboring men.
43:25
Could a hey, in their minds is robbing the people in small
43:28
amounts three times a day. And Pat Crowe got back a part of
43:32
this money in one big chunk and didn't hurt anybody at all.
43:36
There is no doubt but that the jury thought it no worse to
43:39
steal one's child than to starve many.
43:42
End Quote. In Omaha, Lawyer echoed that
43:45
statement and expressed no surprise after the verdict
43:47
either, because of the character of the jury.
43:50
He remarked that they probably thought that Crowe was taking
43:53
the money from one who had himself filched it from others.
43:57
In the meantime, police escorted Crowe to a Council Bluffs jail,
44:00
where he was charged with the streetcar robbery from the
44:03
previous July. Crowe, jubilant over his
44:06
acquittal, entered the cell corridor as jauntly as if being
44:09
shown to the best room in a hotel.
44:12
Over 200 people came to visit the famous criminal.
44:15
Crowe told reporters that he had been offered $500 a month to
44:19
join a theatrical company, but had not decided whether or not
44:23
to accept the offer. Lawyers were able to postpone
44:26
his trial and by February 21st officials released Crowe on
44:31
bail. The trial did not occur until
44:34
May of 19 O 7, when again a jury acquitted Crowe in his two day
44:38
trial. A key witness did not appear,
44:41
perhaps because Pat had been observed at her house for a
44:45
considerable time Sunday afternoon and evening and again
44:48
the early hours of Monday morning during the week of the
44:50
trial. The record of Crowe's life after
44:54
the Council Bluffs trial is sketchy.
44:57
By October of 19 O 6, Crowe had published a book entitled Pat
45:01
Crowe, His story Confession and Reformation, in which he
45:05
admitted his guilt in the Coulda Hey kidnapping.
45:08
The book also included AS Ritchie's address to the jury,
45:11
the lengthy speech filling over half of the book.
45:15
In 1919, Eddie Coulda Hey married Margaret Carey in
45:18
Chicago, where he served as vice president of the packing
45:22
company. Crowe, in New York City working
45:24
for the Salvation Army, sent a congratulatory telegram to Eddie
45:28
which said, quote, nobody can wish you greater happiness in
45:31
the hands of your new kidnapper than do I.
45:34
Here's hoping you cherish no ill will over our former escapade
45:38
and enjoy this one even more. End Quote.
45:42
Crow became a lecturer on crime and at various times throughout
45:45
the 1920s spoke to presidents, or so he claimed, about Prison
45:49
Reform and training for children.
45:52
In 1922, he advocated the vocational training of the
45:56
country's youth on 40 acre farms and 10 acre chicken ranches.
46:01
In 1927, he wrote another book, Spreading Evil, in which he told
46:05
his life story and warned boys not to follow his example.
46:10
Crowe intended the proceeds from the book to go toward a national
46:14
publicity campaign in the interest of America's
46:17
underprivileged youth. Of course, he had other problems
46:20
over the years. Police arrested him as a beggar
46:23
on a subway in 1925. The judge gave him a suspended
46:27
sentence and the court took upon a collection and sent him on his
46:30
way. Pat only commented that honesty
46:33
is the best policy and it pays to advertise.
46:37
In 1935 he was back in Omaha and apprehended on a drunkenness
46:41
charge. His old lawyer, AES Ritchie,
46:44
came out of a two year retirement to successfully
46:46
defend him on the charge. Just before he died, Crow worked
46:50
as an attraction in a penny arcade off Times Square in New
46:54
York City. He died of a heart attack in a
46:56
Harlem rooming house on October 29th, 1938.
47:00
Scrapbooks filled with yellowed clippings of his escapades were
47:03
the only belongings found in his room.
47:06
The books were probably his only contact with reality, since by
47:10
the time of his death he had become a shaking alcoholic.
47:14
Pat Crowe never seemed truly malicious, but rather committed
47:19
his robberies for the money involved and for the daring and
47:22
skill necessary to pull them off the could.
47:25
Hey, kidnapping was only one of these escapades, and it appears
47:29
Crowe probably never did hold a grudge against Edward Cudahy,
47:32
but instead saw him as an easy route to money.
47:35
The laboring classes apparently sympathize with Crowe because of
47:39
his ability to steal from the rich, from diamonds to children,
47:43
and get away with it. The newspapers in 19 O 6
47:47
pictured the new aristocrats of the American class system, men
47:51
such as Edward Cudahay, as capitalist who stole from the
47:54
poor to increase profits. It was no wonder that a
47:58
combination of working man, resentment of the rich, and
48:01
oppress generally favorable to Pat Crow produced a jury capable
48:05
of acquitting him of theft from Cudahay, the Midwest version of
48:09
the robber Baron. The people made Crow a folk
48:12
hero, which explained why crowds gathered to greet his train in
48:16
every little town from Butte to Omaha.
48:19
In his own fashion, Pat Crowe was perhaps one of the last of
48:22
the American folk heroes, a picturesque man who outwitted
48:26
both the police and the Pinkertons and stole from the
48:29
rich. He carried off his operations
48:31
quote with a dash and abandoned of daredevil tree that marked
48:35
the deeds of the picturesque old scoundrels of the days before
48:39
civilization laid them on the shelf.
48:41
End Quote. By the time of his death, the
48:44
country that had experienced World War One and the Great
48:47
Depression had no interest in scoundrels of an earlier age.
48:51
His end as an alcoholic in a Harlem rooming house somehow
48:54
seemed unfitting for a criminal. The Omaha Daily News described
48:58
as one of the few really spectacular and truly named
49:02
Desperados of the day. Thank you for listening to the
49:06
Nebraska History Podcast. To learn more about the Nebraska
49:09
History Magazine, to listen to more podcasts, or to support our
49:13
podcast by becoming a member of the Nebraska State Historical
49:16
Society, go to history.nebraska.gov/podcast.
49:20
And don't forget to subscribe to the podcast and get notified
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49:27
Until next time, I'm Chris Goforth.