Evening star., 1928-05-11
KEPHART MAY FACE
{. P. WILSON TODAY
Maryland Police Check-Up
Details OF Explorers
Story of Attack.

Montgomery County police, 1t was
learned today, are engaged in a close
check-up OF the story OF Leonard w.
Kephart, plant pathoiogist and African
explorer, and II his condition this after
noon permits. 1t was learned on excel
lent authority. he and e. Percival Will
son. Washington banker. win be brought
together to 60 over the circumstances
Of the attack on Kephart and the kid
naping of Wilson Wednesday night
The Montgomery County police, 1t Is
understood, are acting on the theory
that Kephart. upon whose shoulders
there has been heavy burden OF extra
work since his return from Africa two
months ago. may have suffered tempo
rary mental lapse.
Reported Being Wayiaid.
Rephart. according to his own story,
was waylaid early Wednesday evening
In Soldiers Home Park, while he was
one his way 10 work, by two men and six
hours later staggered into the Soldiers
Home Hospital partially stripped and
with wound on his head. During the
interval he claimed that he had lain
unconscious In an alfalfa field where
he was thrown.
Two hours after the alleged assault
Wilson was kidnapped while locking the
door of his garage by man driving
Kephart's car. The banker finally dis
armed his abductor and escaped.
Mr.. Wilson. however. said this MORN
ing that he knew of no arrangements
for him TO meet Kephart, and he was
unable to associate the kidnaper with
| the photograph shown him. He only
saw the man In the dark, he said. and
could not recognize him unless brought
face TO face with him again.
Kephart Under Nurses Care.
| Kephart was confined to his home
today. under the care of a nurse.
He brought back with him from
Africa a great quantity OF material TO
be worked over and has spent many adj
| ditional hours at his desk In the divi-
sion of forage crops OF the Department
OF Agriculture. at Seventh and II
streets. Associates IN that Office, how
ever. said today that they had Witness
ed no evidences that the strain OF over
work was having any effect on the
scientist
The sequence OF alleged assault, rob-
berry and kidnapping remains today one
OF the most bafiiing mysteries Washing
ton and Maryland police have faced for
long time.
The attempted abduction OF Wilson
took place about 10 o'clock Wednesday
night after he and his mother law
had returned from q visit to neighbors.
A young man. whose car was parked
near the Wilson home, pressed the bar
rel of pistol against his back while
he was locking hts garage door and or
dered him to accompany him
Taken 10 Chevy Chase Lake.
Wilson was taken TO Chevy Chase
Lake and during the ride he asked his
abductor the purpose OF the proceeding
and offered To give the man his money.
To this offer, Wilson says. the man
told him that this Is something new
something that has never been tried
before" Shortly thereafter Wilson es-
capped after struggle during the
course of which the bandit was dis
armed Following The struggle on the
roadside, and which could be heard by
persons at the trolley station nearby, the
abductor ran down a road and Jumped
on q running board of car that was
bound for the city, Police feel that the
driver OF this car was not an accom-
plice. and that the only reason he has
not revealed his identity In because of
his hesitancy to become involved In the
affair,
Although police attach some signin-
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