100 years ago today : A kidnapped mother
By AmberLynn
@ScribbledAdNauseum (104632)
United States
February 5, 2021 9:26am CST
This was taken from The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, February 05, 1921, SATURDAY AND WEEKLY EDITION, Page Page Two, Image 2 Found on chroniclingamerica.loc.gov
The picture is of Mrs. Gladys W. Witherell who was kidnapped by two cousins and taken to a remote cabin. It is said she suffered a nervous breakdown upon her rescue. The cousins requested $20,000 which would have been an even bigger fortune in those days. She was found and the cousins arrested before any money could be handed over.
12 people like this
13 responses
@Tina30219 (81536)
• Onaway, Michigan
5 Feb 21
Glad she was found and the cousins were arrested before any money could be handed over
3 people like this
@ScribbledAdNauseum (104632)
• United States
5 Feb 21
Same here. I wish we had more context though. I'd like to know if maybe they were targeting the husband or just what went through their minds.
@ScribbledAdNauseum (104632)
• United States
5 Feb 21
@Tina30219 I haven't given a lot of thought to people being kidnapped years ago but I guess it's not a new thing.
@moffittjc (118550)
• Gainesville, Florida
5 Feb 21
While I'm sure that was a horrible ordeal for her, I'm glad it ended well with her rescue and the arrest of the cousins. And it could have been much worse. I'm glad you didn't say she was kidnapped, raped and beaten by her cousins. That would have been unforgivable.
2 people like this
@ScribbledAdNauseum (104632)
• United States
5 Feb 21
I don't think they were her cousins.. I should have worded that better. The article said the men were cousins to one another but not to her.
Oh well, She might have been molested. I'm not sure the papers would have mentioned it.
1 person likes this
@ScribbledAdNauseum (104632)
• United States
5 Feb 21
@moffittjc Even today women (and men) aren't forthcoming with being molested. In those days it would have definitely been seen as somehow the woman's fault. She lead the man on or did something that made the man do what he did.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118550)
• Gainesville, Florida
5 Feb 21
@ScribbledAdNauseum Oh, thanks for the clarification. Of course, times were different back then, even crooks would have had the decency to keep their hands off the women (at least I hope so). And something like that probably would have never been reported by the newspaper either...it would just be too indecent for the times!
1 person likes this
@RebeccasFarm (86827)
• United States
5 Feb 21
Oh dear how very sad the poor woman.
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@RebeccasFarm (86827)
• United States
5 Feb 21
@ScribbledAdNauseum Yes and worried poor lady
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@ScribbledAdNauseum (104632)
• United States
5 Feb 21
@RebeccasFarm Yes. I do hope the cousins were locked away for a long time for kidnapping and bribery.
1 person likes this
@ScribbledAdNauseum (104632)
• United States
5 Feb 21
I am sure she was frightened out of her mind. I am just glad that she was found before it got too out of hand.
1 person likes this
@LeaPea2417 (36497)
• Toccoa, Georgia
5 Feb 21
Wow, how awful! Thank goodness she was rescued!
1 person likes this
@ScribbledAdNauseum (104632)
• United States
5 Feb 21
Yes. The way the article made it seem, she was not gone for very long.
1 person likes this
@ScribbledAdNauseum (104632)
• United States
5 Feb 21
@LeaPea2417 Yes. I hope she was able to recover from it mostly. I am sure it left some psychological scars.
@LeaPea2417 (36497)
• Toccoa, Georgia
5 Feb 21
@ScribbledAdNauseum that is good.
1 person likes this
@kobesbuddy (74740)
• East Tawas, Michigan
5 Feb 21
Thank God she was rescued, instead of murdered! Things like this happen, people can be so hideous:(
2 people like this
@ScribbledAdNauseum (104632)
• United States
5 Feb 21
I think the kidnappers were interested more in getting money from the husband. He must have been a prominent businessman.
2 people like this
@ScribbledAdNauseum (104632)
• United States
5 Feb 21
@kobesbuddy Oh absolutely. Some only see dollar signs in their eyes.
2 people like this
@kobesbuddy (74740)
• East Tawas, Michigan
5 Feb 21
@ScribbledAdNauseum Money is more important to many, than a human life.
2 people like this
@LindaOHio (157096)
• United States
5 Feb 21
How different that she was kidnapped by people that she knew! I'm glad she was found.
2 people like this
@ScribbledAdNauseum (104632)
• United States
5 Feb 21
Oh, I'm sorry! I don't know that she knew them. They were cousins to each other, but the article didn't say they were related to her.
1 person likes this
@ScribbledAdNauseum (104632)
• United States
5 Feb 21
@LindaOHio No, it's no problem. I should have worded it better.
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (157096)
• United States
5 Feb 21
@ScribbledAdNauseum OH! I thought they were related to her. My mistake.
1 person likes this
@snowy22315 (170440)
• United States
5 Feb 21
I guess the cousins knew the family had a few bucks.
1 person likes this
@ScribbledAdNauseum (104632)
• United States
5 Feb 21
I really need to edit this and word it differently. I don't think the men were related to the woman. I think the men themselves were cousins to each other. Just the way the article had it worded made me think this.
But yeah, I think whoever they were and however they were or wern't related, they were aware of the money.
@ScribbledAdNauseum (104632)
• United States
6 Feb 21
I think her husband must have been rich. The article didn't mention the husbands employment.
1 person likes this
@ScribbledAdNauseum (104632)
• United States
5 Feb 21
Yes. I can not imagine the terror she felt.
1 person likes this
@ScribbledAdNauseum (104632)
• United States
5 Feb 21
I think greed must have motivated them. There was not a lot of information given, but I assume the woman's husband was a prominent businessman and had a lot of money.
@ScribbledAdNauseum (104632)
• United States
5 Feb 21
Oh absolutely. That would be $291,032.40 in today's money.
1 person likes this
@ScribbledAdNauseum (104632)
• United States
5 Feb 21
I'm sorry I seemed to have confused people by my wording. I do not believe the woman were related to the men. The men, however, were related to each other by being cousins.
