The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-11-01
ACTOR HITCHCOCK
 CANNOT BE FOUND
His Friends Suspect Foul Play
 In His Case
ROUNDED FOR TWO YEARS
Counsel for Hitchcock Believes the Actor Has Been Kidnapped or Mur- dered, While Many Other
 Surmises Are Made.

New York, October 31.-The disappear ance of Raymond Hitchcock, following his indictment by the g:sno jury, which had heard the stories of three little girls, was the absorbing topic today on Broad way, who're those who had known the star intimately for the past 10 years on the stage, advanced half a dozen theories in explanation of his default
 The actors closest friends, who 1lave en- ergetieally defended his name since he became involved in trouble. are divided in opinion. Many insisted today that driven desperate by serious accusations, he had committed suicide. Others were satisfied that he had been spirited away and pos sibly murdered by men who had practiced blackmail on the comedian and who feared exposure if the case against their victim came to trial
 This theory was voiced by Herman Fromme, the missing mans attorney, and Mrs. Hitchcock, who before marriage was Sudell Magazarian of Chicago Mrs Hitchcock. though near collapse through worry, has continued to play opposite her husbands understudy at the theatre where both were engaged until yesterday.
 Fromme's Statement.
 When Hitchcock failed to appear at the matinee, MT. Fromme said:
 Hitchcock did not go away on his own account. He has been either Kidnapped or murdered by the band of blackmailers by which he has been annoyed, threat ened and bounded for the past two years.
 Elk of these dozen men are known by name to me. MT. Hitchcock has lived m state of continual terror on account of their persistence for two years. Never theless he has not left his wife voiun- tarily. He is an innocent man, and there is not the slightest foundation for the accusations made
 -Four men have been trailing his for ' lnon4as. Now 1t turns out that they are blachnailers. Last Saturday MT Bitcb- cock was anxious to have this entire mat ter aired in court but an adjournment prevented this. The case was called for this afternoon. I believe that he is the victim of blackmailers who are anxious not to have the case threshed out.
 Police Still Searching.
 While these theories gained some cred ence the police did not relax their et- forts to find Hitchcock, which began
 
 sent out last night. All outgoing steam CTS We're visited and their passenger nsts scrutinlzed. A wireless message was sent to the Majestic, which sailed yesterday Detectives also watched the train sta tions, but late tonight their vigilance had not been rewarded. District Attorney Je- rome tonight sent two detectives to Bos- ton. This action probably grew out of the statement of a conductor who thought he had seen Hitchcock as a passenger from this city to North Adams yester- day. Some of Hitchcock's acquaintances think it likely that he sought seclusion where undisturbed for a few days he can think over his predicament and de- eide upon a course of action.
 Hitchcoclz's troubles have assumed sev- eral phases. He first caused the arrest of a boy who. he alleged, attempted to blackmail him.
 Disclosures in the case led to Hitch cocks arrest and he was arraigned Mon day. The case went over until today, and he was released on 5000 bail. Meantime the grand jury returned six indictments against the actor some of them charging criminal assault and abduction When the original case was called today and tho defendant failed to appear, his counsel asked that the bond be continued for one week. The district attorneys assistant made no objection and the magistrate set the hearing for next Wednesday after noon.