The Washington times., 1930-01-03

crude closet. On a shelf was a
typewriter, with the odd peculi-
arities in the letters 3D." It,"
M" "e," "r." There was also
a gas stove, Clipped crockery
and pistol. In the corner was
a battered old phonograph with
the note, "Try the records"
There were a dozen of these
records. They put one on the
machine. A sharp, metallic
voice Shrilled out: I'm going to
feed you now. Sit perfectly
quiet. If you shout when I
remove the gag, you'll be simply
and permanently 81 lie n C e d.
Obey!"
The strident command struck
disnally through the tense
quiet. Each record was in the
same Woman's voice; each had
o different command. They
ground out with q bleak, tawdry
pathos that Knocked the grim
figure on the bed.
The diary of Tom Burns
crime was spotted all through
with this appalling, misdirected
brilliance. On the fly-leaf was
q tribute to the editor who had
tried to save him from prison
and tried again to have him re-
leased Christmas Eve before his
child should die.
There followed pages scared
with dark, ruinous passions.
The fearful time when the
father watched his son dying
his obsession that $500 would
save the little boy. Bryce re-
fused to give this sum: Elliott
innocently blocked the mans
attempt to steal it. To Tom
Burns, these tive became his
sons murderers.
Terrible prison days he lay
and planned his revenge. Oh
to get the two of theml Make
Bryce agonize as he had! -
From the moment Of his re-
lease Tom Burns planned the
kidnapping. He followed that
dungeon behind the garage; he
watched little Billy Bryce st
play in the park. He plotted
with Partridge and Montgom-
cry. He made friends with
Guys dog. Bit by the
elaborate details came to him.
One Sunday he came upon the
flurne and sent Jim to retrieve
a ball. This gave him the idea
for escaping with the ransom.
Another time he worried
about Elliott identifying him as
his captor. Then he thought
of the phonograph and had
his poor, troubled wife, Effie
make the records. She thought
him demented, so humored him.
He saw with diabolic detail
the completed crime. Then
came Opportunity with the
open break between Guy and
William Bryce. How beauti-
fully this would blacken the
case against Elliott!
Monday, October 22--We'Ve
done it! Landed the kid with
out one hitch. Elliott lies doped
in my dungeon. Whole city is
wild. Dicks are Shadowing me.
Much they'll find!
October 23-Worked all day.
Awful that the girl was car
ried off in the plane. Hope she
doesn't queer it. God-to have
a hitch now! Had to give
Elliott a whiff of chloroform.
He began plunging like a mad
bull about the room. I put on
one Of my records. The woman's
voice bewildered him. I've sent
Effie to San Carlos to visit her
sister-told her to stay the
week. Need solitude in times
like this.
"Midnight-They've landed in
the desert by now if all has
gone as programmed. Scores of
planes searching. Public ter
. ribly inflamed.
october 24-1'm ShadoWed.
I go to work. Feed Elliott at
night. Keep him half doped.
October 25-Dicks not so
hot on my trail. Took the noon
hour and delivered my first
ransom note. Drove out Haight
Street. gave a dollar bill and
the letter OF a kid. Told him
to take it to Western Union.
Returned to work on time. I've
got Jim tied up in an old shed
down the Ocean Shore Road.
After work drove down and fed
him. Love that dog. Dicks
easing up on me. Can't figure
I had anything to do with ran
som note when I was at work
all day. Elliott wants to wash
refuses to eat. My God, the
fellows strong. Furious when