Evening star., 1927-03-28
|MAYORBUySB BACK
| HIS STOLEN BABY
Little Virginia Frazier Left on
Friends Porch After He
Pays $3.333.33.

| BY the Associated Press
| CHATTANOOGA. Tenn, March 2s.
Little Virginia Josephine Frazier,
| 2-year-old daughter of acting mayor
and Mrs. Fred B. Frazier held by
kidnap pers for four days, was left on
the front porch of a minister's home
| last night. dirty and only partially
clothed. but apparently unhurt. Mr..
/ Frazier had paid a ransom of $3.333.33
earlier in the evening.
| Mrs. John Fernable, wife of the
pastor of the First Presbyterian
| Church, found the baby when she an
swered the door bell. Her husband
! Immediately communicated with Mr.
and Mrs. Frazier, physician and
the police, and the reunion was quick
ly effected.
A drug the kidnapers administered
to the baby in small quantities caused
! trowsiness, but in a few hours the
! effect had worn off. A physician said
there was nothing to fear.
Stolen Last Wednesday.
| The Fraziers were out of the city
last Wednesday when the baby disap-
| peared. A nurse maid, who watched
| over a 6.year-old son In a room ad-
joining the baby's sleeping place, OBJ
served early Thursday that the child
had not called for her brother. She
| peeped into the room and saw an
empty crib. only the baby's shoes and
a few little garments We're there.
Every policeman In the city, pri
Vate detectives and many citizens be-
/, gan an organized search, to no avail.
| Hundreds of stories were investigated
/ while the father and mother waited
! for some word. Not until the baby
was found did the parents make
| known the true situa ton. Some in
| dication was given. however, for they
had requested police to press for ar
rests.
| Friday afternoon the Fraziers re.
ceived a special delivery.
| We have your baby" 1t said. 1T
will take $3.333.33. She il all right
| but last night was cold. we don't know
what will happen this cold weather.
| Be ready with the money when we calf
you. This is not my writing, so you
| needn't try to trace me-
Second Note Arrives.
! Worn by anxiety to the point of
breaking. the parents decided to take
the writer at his word Fearing that
an effort to apprehend the abductors
would result in tragedy, Mr.. Frazier
obtained the money and waited i'm his
office for the next move. 1t was soon
made. A police sergeant brought a
| letter delivered to him by Western
! Union messenger. who had in turn
/ received it from negro boy with
] the instructions: Take 1t to Mrs
Frazier; she'll pay the charges when
you get there. I'm in hurry"
| The letter dema nded that the ram
som he handed to negro boy who
would be found at designated place,
/ holding broom handle. Tell him to
| give 1t to Frank. He thinks that's my
name" the letter said.
The baby is well and singing and
! laughing and dancing. After the
! money is delivered your baby will be
! left in the home of friend
| Mr.. Frazier rushed to the desig-
| mated intersection after first telephon-
| ing his brother Jim to bring the
money.
Baby Promptly Returned.
A youthful negro, wearing hand
kerchief well over his face, walked
| nervousy at the corner when Frazier
arrived.
Are you looking for me?' he
asked
Yes"
Where's your broom handler"
The negro produced one from be.
hind n fence
II didn't get the message until s.
| have sent for the money and will
| have IL here in 20 minutes"
Thirty minutes later Frazier deliv-
cred the money to the negro with
bundle containing the letters received
| from the abductors, which had been
requested.
In few minutes Rev. Mr.. Venable
| called and the. Frazier family were
informed their baby had been found.