Evening star., 1928-05-10
EXPLORER FELLED,
BANKER KIDNAPPED
: IN MYSTERY CASE
Leonard w. Kephart Stag
gers to Hospital Six Hours
After Being Assaulted.
CAR USED TO ABDUCT
{. PERCIvAL WILSON
Latter Escapes From Auto, but
Fails in Effort to Capture
Man in Maryland.

Leonard w. Kephart. celebrated plant
patholoeist and African explorer. and
e, Perciyal Wilson. Washington banker
we're the victims last night of mys-
terious sequence of assault, robbery and
KIDNAPPING which rivals the best efforts
of fiction
Keuhart. back two months from eX-
plorine lce-capped peaks in the heart
of darkest Africa, was driving through
Soldiers Home Park shortly after
clock last evening. on his way from
his home. at 226 Maple avenue, Takoma
Park. to his Office, at Seventh and B
streets. In the Forage Crops Division
OF the Department of Agriculture. He
had intended to work late over the ma
terial brought back from Africa, on
the way he stopped for few minutes
at the home Of q friend.
He was passing an alfalfa field In the
mark when two men walked into the
middle of the road in front OF his car
and ordered him to halt.
Attempted to Render Aid.
All the same time he saw what ap-
peared to be the figure OF woman
crouehed beside a tree. He stopped
The men told him that their companion
was iii and asked him TO take her to a
hospital.
The explorer jumped from his ma
chine and leaned over the apparently
PROSTATE body.
He recovered consciousness more than
hours later. at about 2.30 am, "
ing in the alfalfa field. stripped OF most
of his clothing II was cold,
The explorer saw the fun nloop low
I'm the sky He started 70 crawl To-
ward IL In his daZed condition ne
thought Il was lighted building.
Finally his brain began 70 clear ana
he struggled to his feet, Gradually Ee
became aware OF his surroundings.
turned around and managed 20 reacn
the Soldiers Home Hospital.
He was clad only in his uii1srweaf,
shirt. vest and hose. He could not re-
member What had happened.
was Hit on Head.
Examination revealed that he had
been struck On the back OF the n:ac
kicAed in the abdomen aEln scra0ched
on the back Of the neck.
After treatment the explorer Aas ta1en
Ia his nome. where he vas cOn1nsea 20
his bed today. In d serious colaoitan
from his injuries and exposure.
THE second chapter started TWO hours
after the assault on Kephaf. wilson,
who rs treasurer Of the NaflOlial saw
3nas e. Trust Co. had been >aiiinS GLeon
neaghborg with his mother T~in-iaW' Mfs'
Florence Keech. n.
and H0sernzrv street, Chevy Chase, No,
about 10 ON. Mrs. Keech went INTO
the house anxsOus TO reach her daugn-
ter. who Is III. -
Wilson out hts car In the garage. ne
noticed a car parked in front Of
neighbor's home.
He was locking the garage door Efien
a young man appeared behind MIN ana
Whispered: Keep quiet and dont say
Al the same time the barrel OF 3
nsst0J was showed against his back ana
he was ordered 10 get into the parked
car Then the abductOr ordered MN 70
iay fat on the floor. but ne refused. he
was permitted TO crouch on his knees.
His capbor drove TO Connectlcut ave-
nue. and proceeded towards Cfaevy Iiiaee
wilson offered money for his liberty
The man laughed.
Shouts for Help.
II don't want your money" he said
This Ii going 10 be something new.
something that has never been done
before"
Al Chevy Chase Lake there were
Mzfats and people moving about. "A
the car approached Wilson stood az
suddenly and shouted for help The
sDductar, with both hands on the steer
ing wheel. we& Gt a disadvantage Hi
gun was on the seat beside him.
Wilson waited until the man brought
the car To halt and then wrested the
gun from him.
As he grabbed the weapon the hankei
lost his balance and fell from the car
stu cIutching IL.
Tke skgauc1or watched him for a mo.
Snena. Then fae jumped from the cal
on the ether side and fed down Con
nactlcut avenue toward the city. III
had gone bat q short distance whef
another car stopped beside him and
took him In.
The banker started 10 dfige back a
his fg0nae In the bandits car.
Al tbs same moment somebody raF
up " Policeman Gather, who was d.
Yectsng sraf14c az CheYg Chase Lake
sksosgtsr4g, There's man getting Int
o. G&f WBS8s q EAtt ~ sAS@ tS@AbaSksf
Gather pursued and stopped Wilson.
Before the circumstances could b.
szplaisae6 the abductor's companion tlaA
x3lcked him up ard they were Qua o
elglat.
Tne policeman cr0ye the banker y
bis iaoHse,
Cheek Aats License.
He had been gone Searcety ~ minute
sn1 his family we're not aware tina
anything YaE NEgtlg liz ngfifled ia
af0nlgog9etg County E0iacf. Sefaa Ii
roy ID31gers sg1G Policeman Gather sn
E2Fi EsGine we're bG3d ~ Investigate.
LII E.....na -. fa..a . ftaiaatan q