Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1924-05-27
HOUSE ACTION
SENDS TAX BILL
To COOLIDGE
SUSPECT SOUGHT IN
KILLING FRANKS BOY
ElUDES POLICE

CnlCdBO, May Zo-DeIeCtlveS nunC-
ing the kidnappers of Robert Franks.
13 year old son Of a Chicago million
aire whose nude body was found in
a swamp last Thursday after de-
mands for a $4,000 ransom had been
made. were searching tonight for a
man who answers in nearly every
detail the hypothetical description of
one Of the kidnappers built up by the
police from various fragments of
evidence.
For a time late today it was
thought that the man sought was
surrounded in an apartment hotel
building on the south side, where he
applied for a room. Squads of de-
tectives were rushed to the building
and made thorough search, but the
man eluded them.
The man, slim, exceedingly ner-
vous, about Ave feet nine inches tall
and weighing 140 or 145 pounds, ex-
cited the suspicious of the apartment
hotel clerk when he applied for q
room. The clerk said he appeared
about 35 years old and wore tortoise
shell spectacles. When the clerk in
formed him there was no room avail
able, the man said he had to get in
off the street. and left but was fol-
lowed and entered a nearby building.
Detectives hurried to the scene and
searched every building in the block
but failed to find the man.
Attorney representing two Of the
instructors of the private school at
ended by the boy. who have been
held by the police for questioning
since the Staying was discovered, to-
night applied for writs Of, habeus
corpus for their release, declaring
that the instructors have given all
the information in their possession
and that he police can have no fur
her reason for holding them. The
writs were returnable tomorrow.
The policee are also holding a man
whose name they refuse to reveal
and who Is said to answer in a gen.
eral way the description given by O
florist, who purchased wreath from
him. This wreath, bearing the name
George Johnson" was sent to the
Franks home on the day Of the boys
funeral. George Johnson was the
name used by the man who tried to
secure a ransom OF $4,000 from ia
cob Franks, father of the slain
youth.
During the day the police rounded
up three automobiles answering the
description OF the. car believed to
have been used by the kidnappers
One was held at the detective bureau
the owner of another proved an ALL
bi and the third machine was being
watched until someone appeared to
claim It. =
Search for makers of spectacles
found near the body also narrowed
down today when 1t was found that
the special frame had been on the
market for>only two months and was
made by only three firms here. II
was also announced that a general
roundup of all persons suspected OF
being degenerates had been ordered
by Chief Collins in connection with
the Investigation.
After long conference and the
questioning of several witnesses the
police announced tonight that the in
structors had been practically elm
mated from consideration, but that
another had been involved by the
latest information.
According to the latest theory, the
boy was accidentally killed while be-
ing held for ransom and the latest
suspect Is an instructor who the DO
lice believe may have used his land =
lady's automobile for the purpose of
taking the boys body to the swamp
/ A new witness. the. police said
saw what he believes to be the auto
mobile carrying the boys body short1
ly after midnight Wednesday. The
glasses found near the body. accord
ing to the latest theory. were not the
property of q man but of the woman
whose Automobile Is believed to have
been borrowed. Tho police tonight
took their latest witness to the home
Of the woman. under suspicion where
he was to try to identify the automo-
bile.