Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-09-18
CHARGES NEW PLOT.
F.. ON MURDER FARM
Northcott's Nephew Alleges
Staying of Entire Family
Considered.
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
LOS ANGELES, September 10
After more than three days spent in
checking 15-year-old Sanford Clark s
account of the torture and murder of
four boys by his uncle, Gordon Stuart
Northcott, 81, on Northcott's isolated
Riverside, Calf, murder" farm, au-
thorities today frankly admitted they
were unable to strike balance be-
tween the contradictory evidence thus
far uncovered. ....-
While spades of officers probed the
three-acre farm, uncovering evidence
which alternately tended to support
and disprove Clark's story, the lad
piled on the already heavy load of
accusations against his uncle the &C
count of a plot to do away with a
whole family. This story gained quick
confederation.
Young Clark told the officers that
Northcott last Summer planned to kill
a man named Dahl and his wife, and
succeeded in Turing them to the farm
last July Clark said Northcotts plan
was to add their four sons to his list
of alleged torture and murder victims.
Mrs. James c. Bell, wife of Re-
dondo Beach, Calf, brigadier general
of the Salvation Army, told the Of
ficers that young Northcott came to
her husband and, giving his name as
Gray, asked the name Of family with
several children, preferably boys, who
would work on a farm. DahIs name
was given Northcott, she said. and he
made an appointment for the family
to come to the ranch that night.
Frightened by Voices.
The Dahls told the Salvation Army
officers that they kept the appointment,
but were asked to wait a few minutes
on the front porch of the Northcott
house. They waited for two hours
while subdued voices were heard In
argument in the rear Of the house, then
became frightened and left.
When Mrs. Bell saw young North
colts photograph she recognized him
as Gray" A check of records showed
that the license number of Gray's au-
tomobile as jotted down by Mr.. Bell
was the same as young Northcott's:
Meanwhile City Chemist Rex Walsh
emerged from his laboratory to an
nounce that blood found on an ak at
the so-called murder farm probably
was that of an animal. But three
strands of hair adhering to the AK blade
were from human head, the chemist
said. Detectives making an examination
of the Northeott home found blood
stained board and a Ratchet, the blade
of which was ground to raZorllKe
edge.
From a laboratory where microscopes
and scientific instruments are used IN
trailing crime J.. Clark Sellers, GRIM
inologist employed by Riverside County
authorities, announced he had vital
bits of evidence corroborating young
Clark's story"
Police Doubts Grow.
Police doubts of Clarks story began
to grow again, however, when he told
them that at least 80 boys had been
taken to or visited the Northcott farm
within the last two years and that
Northcott owned cabin in Mint Cain
yon, north of Saugus, Calf, where some
of the boys might have been taken. De-
tectives said they would take Clark with
them today in an attempt to find the
cabin.
Riverside authorities, faced by The
battling mixture of contradictory EVIL
dence, said no murder complaint Wou.d
be filed against young Northcott or his
mother, Mrs. Louisa Northcott, until
more definite proof had been obtained.
The Los Angeles police said they had
told Riverside officers they must take
Cyrus G. Northcott, father of the sus-
pected youth, or he would be released,
He has been held here as material
witness.
The elder Northcott described his son
as an "ape-man," and declared he had
known that Gordon was abnormal in
his emotions.
Mother and son are believed to be
hiding in Canada. They were reported
to have been seen in Vancouver, British
Columbia. last Sunday.