Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1916-09-01
MYSTERY IN PLOT
TO K|DNAP WOMAN
AUTHORITIES SEARCH FOR THE
STRANGER WHO SOUGHT TO
ENTlCE MIDLAND RESIDENT.

The sheriffs of Thurston and Pierce
counties are looking for d mysterious
man who. it is believed, under the
guise of an agent of the state indus
trial insurance commission, attempt
ed on Thursday and Friday of last
week to entice Mrs. Luella McLain to
leave her home at Midland, near
Falkland, Pierce county.
The case is surrounded with mys-
terry, the elaborate plans of the man,
his knowledge of matters pertaining
to the Industrial commission, his
methods of working, and his final
failure to go through with his plans
all proving a puzzling problem for
the authorities to unravel.
Warrant Issued in Tacoma.
A John Doe warrant for the arrest
of the stranger, sworn out in justice
court in Tacoma Monday by Mrs. Nc
Lain, is the authority upon which the
officers are endeavoring to make an
arrest. A good description of the
man, who called himself McCullom,
is in the hands of the officials. The
Tacoma Tribune's version of the af-
fair is as follows:
According to Mrs. McLain, who is
a pretty woman of 20 and the mother
of two children, the man seemed to
have accurate knowledge of the fact
that she had, previous to her second
marriage some time ago, secured an
allowance of $40 month from the
industrial insurance department for
the loss of her first husband.
His first appearance was at her
home near Midland, Thursday, when
he represented himself as an agent of
the state commission, informed her
that her husband had been convicted
of a crime in Olympia and sentenced
to the state penitentiary, and claimed
that if she would accompany him to
Olympia, and sign a paper there, she
would be reinstated on the insurance
rolls at $40 a month. He showed
her what purported to be a state war
rant, according to the story she told
Deputy Prosecutor Harry E. Phelps,
and told her to tell no one.
Tells Relative of Call.
Notwithstanding the plea for Sc
crecy, Mrs. McLain told her first hus-
bands father, Nat Moore, living near
of the strangers call, and on second
visit of the man, who rode about the
county in hired automobile, he was
further questioned. Moore said he
would go along with Mrs. McLain
1t was agreed that the stranger
should call for them on Friday.
Adding to the mystery is the story
of the actions of the man, as related
to Moore by the chauffeur, who says
he not only is out his hire, but was
induced to put up the expenses of his
passenger for two days, while they
visited various points in Thurston and
Pierce counties. After leaving Mid
land Thursday he drove McCullom to
Yelm and was directed to go back
to Midland in the morning for Mrs
MeLain, which he did. On return
the party waited in vain for McCul-
1op of Valp, thon finally drOvp into
Olympia. There inquiry from Com,
missioner Olson of the industrial in
surance commission disclosed that
nothing was known of McCullom, and
also that Mrs. McLain's husband, who
has not been with her for some time
had not been arrested or convicted.
His fare was first picked up by him
at Rochester, according to the chauf.
feur, and taken to Olympia, where
after going into the capitol building
he came out and drove 40 miles to q
house in Thurston county, where he
shook hands and conversed with
some people. AS an excuse for get
ting the chauffeur to pay the bills the
stranger said his money was in $2OC
bills. too large to cash.
The Rochester autoist's name is
Atwood, and he is said to be ou
about $35.