The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1924-05-24
WOMAN SOUGHT
BY POLICE IN
FRANKSCASE
Police Predict Important De-
velOpments in Solution of
Battling Mystery
HOME is GUARDED
New Anonymous Threats Are
Received by Father, De-
manding Hunt Cease
HOME is GUARDED

Chicago, May 24.-(By the A. PD
"A woman was sought today for the
first time in connection with the kid
naping and death OF Robert Franks,
14-year-old son of a millionaire man.
ufacturer.
This and an automobile license
were all the police let become known
of their plans to solve the mystery.
A police guard was hurriedly
thrown about the home of Jacob
Franks, father of the slain victim
of kidnapers after new threats of
violence had been reported to states
attorney Robert f. Grove, by men,
hers of the family.
Anonymous telephone calls to the
Franks residence, the father report
ed to the states attorney, warned
of further outrages if the hunt for
the slayers continued.
Chief of police Collins and Chief
of Detectives Hughes, after pro-
tracted conference this afternoon, is
sued joint statement predicting
pointed developments in the baff-
ling and tragic mystery.
Still Debate Cause.
The cause of death was not de-
termined definitely last night and
after "a hours of investigation the
police admitted the crime one Of
the most battling in the city's his
tory. Detectives were hunting the
answers to score of questions while
a coroners inquest, was continued
nation.
The place where the youth died
had not been found but the police
believe it was far from the swamp
on the south side where his body
was foand stuffed into culvert.
One of the lads stockings was found
near his LJdy, but none of his other
clothing has been found. Coroner's 8
assistants believed poison was the
actual cause of death and anXiously
awaited the results of chemical
analysis tonight to definitely deter
mine their theory. They said the
blows on the head which the boy
suffered had not fractured the skull.
Kidnapping for ransom or some un-
explained motive alternatcd in the
minds of the police who We're disin-
' sclined to believe that the boy had
been abducted for ransom alone af
ter doctors expressed the belief that
he had been killed within four hours
after he disappeared Wednesday
while on his way from private
school to his home, three blocks dis
tant. One instructor of the fashion
able private school attended by the
youth was under surveillance tonight
and two others and the principal
were questioned today.
Seek Grey Car
A grey car which loitered near the
school the day the boy disappeared
and in which he is believed to have
been carried away has not been found
and automobile tracks near the cul-
vert where the body was found are
undeveloped clues. The pair of spec.
tacles found near the body and at
first believed the property of the boy,
presented peculiar angle. They are
hOih IAmHhcu, udIIOW VI WluIn, HldOo
for person of narrow head but
large nose, near sighted. police de-
clared. Finding of the owner of the
spectacles will 60 far toward solving
the mystery, authorities believe.
The construction of special de-
livery letter, received at the Franks
home yesterday morning few hours
after telephone call had informed
the family the boy was kidnapped and
at about the same time the body was
found, offered one of the most tang
ible clues. The writer has not been
traced but the missive was one such
as a well educated person would
compose and was written on small
folding typewriter, according to
typewriter expert. The missive, de-
manding payment of $4,000 ransom
money, was followed a few hours
later by telephone call to the effect
that taxicab was being sent to
carry Mr.. Franks to the kidnapers.
The father, Jacob Franks, i, wealthy
watch manufacturer was waiting
with the money but refused to ac-
company the taxi driver when the
latter said he did not know where to
60 with his fare.