Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1926-07-15
Radio Operator
Sought in Probe
Temple Evangelist

Los angeles, Cal, July l4-tH1--
Officers investigating the abduction
story of Aimee Semple Mcpherson,
Angelus Temple Evangelist, today
concentrated on the attempt to To-
cate Kenneth G. Ormiston, former
peared few days after Mrs. Nc
Pherson was reported drowned at
Ocean Park May IS.
The motive for the extension of the
search was believed to have been dis
closed in the publication by the Los
Angeles Times today Of a report that
Orniston had been partially identi-
fed as the man who sent telegram
to Mrs. Minnie Kennedy, the Evan
gelists mother, on May 81, saying
the Evangelist was safe.
Investigators believe that Ornistor
has left the state. officials declined
to state whether Mrs. Kennedy was
questioned by the county grand jury
yesterday concerning the telegram.
The grand jury recessed after yester-
days session to re-convene tomor-
row.
The Times says the telegram sent
Mrs. Kennedy said:
"Angelus Temple, Eden Park, Los
Angeles.
Mother McPherson:
Daughter o. K. period. Do not
worry period. Communication prov
en- period. Am signing for J. H. A.,
who believe o. X. Details by mail.
"DR. MURTEN."
Handwriting on the telegraph
blank used in sending the message is
said by experts to be identical with
that of letter written by Ormiston
some weeks ago.
Partial Identification of the sender
OF the telegram was made by Leslie
Bland, II, and Clifford Frazier, II,
OF the Oakland telegraph Office by
means of photogra phs Of Ormiston
shown them. They said that the
sender took elaborate precautions to
hide his identity. According to the
two the man drove up in front of the
telegraph Office some time before II
p. NJ. May 81 and blew the horn Of
his automobile until Bland, who is a
delivery boy and Frazier, his chum,
went out to the car.
BlanS, who said the man in the car
resembled photographs Of Ormiston,
told Of accompanying him some dis
lance from the telegraph office,
where he dictated the message.
Bland said the man then tore up the
message and wrote another. Bland
took the revised message to the tele-
graph Office.
Both Bland and Frazier said that
the automobile driven by the writer
OF the telegram was a closed model
ana OF the same make as that own
ed by the former radio operator.
Investigation shows that OSmis-
ton purchased an automobile, a
coupe, in Seattle. March Is. Fifteen
hundred dollars of the purchase
price was said to have been sent
him from Venice by telegraph by his
brother James Wallace.
investigators We're unable to To-
cate James Wallace James Wal
lace, they were told, was Mrs. Nc
Pherson's half brother, long dead.
May &c, a man believed to be Or
mission, appeared at Salinas, 100
miles from San Francisco and left
his car. The next day Ormiston ap-
peared in Los Angeles, communicate
ed with Mrs. Kennedy and denied
all connection with the case. The
day following the man reappeared
at Salinas and drove his car from
return two or three hours later with
a woman. May %. the man, police
say, appeared at San Luis Obispo
where he and the woman with him
registered as Mr.. and Mrs. Frank
Gibson. Of Portland. Ore. Clerks at
the hotel identified photographs of
Ormiston as the man who registered
as Gibson.
Mrs. Kennedy appeared before the
grand jury yesterday and testified
as to receiving ransom letters in
which alleged kidnappers demanded
100000 to produce Mrs. Mcpherson
She is understood to have denied
that the letter reached her before
memorial services were held for her
daughter
Although Dist. Atty. Asa L. keyes
said yesterday he hoped to complete
taking of testimony before the grand
jury tomorrow he declared the in
quiry will not close until he feels
satisfied he has learned all he can
of the crime Mrs. Mcpherson says
was committed against her"
He intimated additional testimony
would be introduced from Douglas,
Ariz., and Mexican officials before
whom Mrs. Mcpherson appeared in
an exhausted condition and told
story Of abduction and imprison-
ment in shack near the Mexican
border.