The Bismarck tribune., 1924-05-23
MILLI0NAIRE'S.
SON KIDNAPPED.
IS FOUND DEAD
kidnapping of Son Of Wealthy
Manufacturer in Chicago
Followed by Death
THINK POISON WAS USED
Police Unable to Find Out
Why kidnapers Failed to
Wait for Ransom

Chicago, May % By the A. P.)-
The kidnapping and ransom theory
in the mysterious death of l4-year-
old Robert Franks, millionaire
son, came to the fore today when
the coroners chemist said there
was no evidence Of degenerate at
tack. as officials announced early.
Poison, Dr. W. ID. McNally, chem
lst, said might have caused eXter-
nal evidence from which an earlier
theory Of mistreatment was drawn.
Coroner Oscar Wolff accepted Dr..
McNallys theory.
DR.. McNally, after three hours of
preliminary examination, said he
had been unable TO learn the cause
of death. He said chemical exam
ination of the vital organs should
disclose what had killed the boy
within six or seven hours.
Police said they were keeping un-
der surveillance an instructor at a
private school attended by young
Franks. The boy disappeared after
leaving the school grounds.
Chicago, May 23.--(By the A. P.)-
Clues leading both to high culture
and to degeneracy mystified the po-
lice today in solving the kidnaping,
killing and attempt at ransom of Ro-
bert Franks, Ia. son of Jacob Franks.
"A Chicago manufacturers rated at
several million dollars
Frank started to walk three blocks
to his home late Wednesday after
noon after umpiring IL ball game and
was not seen again until his body
was found, nude and bruised, under
ii culvert several miles away.
Police and coroner said today there
was evidence a degenerate had at
tackled him. The coroner said poi
son had apparently caused death
Soon after the kidnapping and be-
fore the hour fixed by the coroner as
the time of death, Mrs. Frank, the
mother, received u telephone call
from a suave speaking man tkat the
boy was held for ransom, that di.ec
tions how to pay would come later
and warning her not to trace tele-
phone calls.
The injunction about tracing calls
was dsregarded. Next morning,
about the time the body was dis
covered, the family received letter
which police and school instructors
said was written by we'll educated
person, demanding $4,000 ransom.
Investigation as to whether it was
copied from we'll known magazine
story produced no known analogy.
DR.. William ID. McNally, coroner's
chemist made an examination of the
boys vital organs, and announced
that discoloration of the victims lips
might indicate poison. He also said
there was some indication of the
presence Of acid in the stomach.
From present indications, / am
inclined to believe that this was the
cause of DEATH" he said.
Coroner's physician Springer said
he believed the ransom letter was
not written until 2 a. M. Thursday.
This was about nine hours after the
boy disappeared. He said close ex-
animation of the boys body indicat-
ed that he died before the letter was
written.
The police are enlisting the help
of Franks schoolmates in the hunt
for his slayer. Irwin Hartman IL
year-old school mate of the victim,
said he saw Franks leave the school
and big gray automobile standing
beside the curb as the boy approach
ed it. When he looked again, Irwin
said, the car was starting but the
boy was not to be seen.
Richard Williams, the athletic in
structor at the Harvard school,
fashionable private institution,
which Robert Franks attended, ques-
toned by the police Said he left the
school about 4:45 on Wednesday i'll
company with Thomas Skillman, a
pupil. He said he went to the Skill
man home where he remained during
the evening.
Mott Kirk Mitchell, the English in
structor, said he left the school af
ter AIS p. m. and went to his home
where he worked in the garden un-
til night.
Neither Williams nor Mitchell
knew anything Of the movements OF
the Franks boy after he left the ball
grounds, he said.