Imperial Valley press., 1928-10-17
FATE OF
YOUTH IS
MYSTERY
Officials Think Lester
Weaver of This City
Was NOrthcOtt Victim.
CLUES UNEARTHED
Tangle of Evidence Indi-
Gates Boy Involved In
Riverside Case.

Belief that Lester Weaver, IA, of
FL Centre was a victim of the tor
lures and murders alleged to have
been conducted by Gordon S. North
cott at ranch near Riverside re-
Gently was expressed by attaches of
the sheriff's office here today. In
vestigations which were begun some
time ago have reached point in
dicating, the authoritives believe,
that the Weaver youth was taken
TO the Northcott farm and slain.
Weaver left his home here in
June to 90 to n military school in
Los Angeles but letter received
later by his mother, Mrs. +. f.
Robertson of 52j Olive street, was
to the effect that he was in Oregon.
He said in the letter that he had
left n suitcase at service station
near Los Angeles and asked that
they get it for him.
The letter appeared strange but
little was thought of it at the time.
1t was believed that lie was with
relatives at. Medford, Ore. Then
supposedly by the people at the ser
vice station. Opening it Mrs. Rob
crtsOn found some of her young
ster's clothing but another boy =
clothing was also sound in the ease.
Then news of the alleged "murder
Farm' at Riverside stirred the Pa
fife coast.
Cap Is Found
Among the other clothing found
in the suitcase was a skull cap,
made from the crown of an old felt
hat. This bore the initials w. c.
and also the name Walter. 1t is be-
lieved to be the hat worn by Wal
ter Collins, whose disappearance was
being investigated by the Riverside
authorities in connection with the
"murdcr farm
Riverside authorities arriving here
Monday night, declared that the cap
was the much sought for link in the
disappearance Of the Collins boy.
Further Investigation revealed
that before leaving home Lester
Lad shown his step-father some pie
lures of a boy friend and Robert
son declares they bore n resemblance
to the Northcott youth. The Wca-
yer boy also said prior to his de
parturc that he had friend who
owned ranch near Riverside and
that he could get job there any
time he wanted one.
The letter received by the mother
from Lester was found and accord
ing to authorities the writing on
the envelope is similar to that of
writing displayed in newspapers aS
being Mrs. Northcott S. The inside
of the letter was apparently written
by the Weaver boy.
In this connection books used by
Weaver in school were turned over to
Sheriff Gillett this morning and
have been forwarded to Riverside
where the clothing found in the
suitcase has been taken pending
further investigation.
Other Clues Revealed
In addition to this scout
whistle had been found at the muir
der ranch and also coat. The coat
it is said, resembled the coat be
longing to a blue tweed suit which
the Weaver boy had in his suit
case when he left but of which only
the trousers were returned in the
suitcase. Weaver boy had a scout
whistle with him when he left. This
was not found in the suitcase.
Efforts to locate Weaver in Ore
gon have proved futile and wire
was sent yesterday to the boys
father, Zeb Weaver, at Humble
Tex. Word was received from the
father this morning to the effect
that his son had not been there and
asking information relative to hi:
disappearance.
1t is believed by authorities that
the Weaver boy was induced to gt
to the Northcott farm; that h,
might have, been forced to write the
letter to his mother, indicating that
he had gone to Oregon and that he
had later become a victim of tn,
alleged murders there.
The fact that the letter was sent
from Los Angeles gives consider
able credence to this belief.
A checkup is also being made OF
a chauffer s badge found in thC
suitcase. 1t is believed this might
have belonged to Northcott