The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1926-06-24
EVANGELIST'S
.KIDNAPERS ARE
BEING HUNTED
Mexican Federal Troops and
Cochise County Posses
Continue Search
HOUSE Is NOT LOCATED
Sheriff Says Woman's Cloth
ing Shows No Signs Of Al
legged Wanderings
HOUSE Is NOT LOCATED

Douglas. Arizona, June 24.-UP)--
Inc search for the two men and a
woman who Mrs. Aimee Sempic Nc.
Pherson, Los Angeles evangelist, says
kidnapped her at Ocean Park, Calf,
on May l8, and held her captive in
Mexico until she escaped Tue sday
was continued through the desolate
country south of the international
boundary today.
Mrs. Mcpherson is in a hospital
here, where she was brought yester-
day morning. She related that two
men and a woman had drugged her
at the beach and that she was uncon-
scious until the next day, when she
awakened in a shack somewhere in
Mexico. Later she was moved to an
other house and escaped while the
three were absent. saving her bind
ings against can. She said she
wandered all night on the desert un-
til she arrived at Aqua Prieta, across
the boundary from here, early yes
terday morning when she was found
by an American and brought to the
hospital here.
Clothing Not Damaged
Yesterday Mexican federal troops
and Cochise county posses searched
the country whence Mrs. McPherson
said she came but were unable to
find trace Of the house. Sheriff
James +. Mcdonald, of Cochise coun-
ty, announced that he had possession
Of Mrs. McPherson's clothing and
shoes and that they were not damag-
ed when she was taken to the hospi-
tai. The country through which She
said she wandered all night is rug
ged and covered with mesquite, cac-
tus and cats claw. No evidence of
having come through the desert
wastes appeared on the clothing or
shoes Of the evangelist, the sheriff
said.
At the same time Chief Of Police
Percy .B0wden and Mayor A. T.. Hin
ton of Douglas expressed their be-
lief that the story told by Mrs. Me-
Pherson was correct.
A. b. Murchison, sergeant of the
Douglas police, has announced tirat
his department has certain clues to
identify the location Of the abduc-
tors of the evangelist" and that the
search would be continued today.
From the diagram drawn by Mrs.
Mcpherson, it has been estimated
that she travelled about 20 miles dur
ing the night. Posses and Mexican
troops have thrown a Gordon around
this area and hope that they will
find the place described by the
evangelist where she was held captive
by the three persons.
Describes Her AbductOrs
Mrs. McPhersin has given descrip-
tions Of the three but says she never
saw them before they abducted her
and has no idea as to their identity.
One man she said was called "Steve"
another 'Felipe," and the woman
"Rose."
Joe Ryan of Los Angeles, deputy
district attorney, is en- route from
Los Angeles under instructions from
District Attorney Asa Keyes to in
vestigate the alleged kidnapping ito
the bottom" District Attorney Keyes
said he could not understand show
. woman like Mrs. Mcpherson, known
almost all over the civilized world,
could be kidnapped from crowded
beach in broad daylight"
Keyes also said he would investi-
gate the withdrawal of a $25, 900 re-
ward posted for the evangelist's safe
return, which was withdrawn June
IL. The investigation was made
Continued on page three.)