Evening star., 1932-05-08
ACTIONS OF MEANS
ARE CHECKED BACK
Federal Agents Seek Kidnap-
ing ConneCtions-Money
Search Vain.

Activities of CASTOR B. Means at the
time of the Lindbergh kidnapping and
subsequent thereto are being investi-
gated by Federal authorities, in connec-
ton with their efforts to recover $780,
900 which Mrs. Evalyn Walsh Mclean
paid Means as ransom fund
Means is said to have claimed he
was in touch with the kidnapers, that
he was in New York during part of the
"Jafsie" negotiations and that he saw
some of the $50 900 paid Col. Lind
bergh's agent
Special agents Of the United States
Bureau of Investigation yesterday were
conducting an intensive search in the
South for the "rough-looking heavily
armed man whom Means introduced as
cne OF the kidnapers at a meeting with
Mrs. Mclean in Aiken, S. c.
Check Ell Paso Report.
A check also was being made on a
report that Harry Fleischer. Purple"
gangster, wanted for questioning in
connection with the Lindbergh abduc-
ton, occupied room in the same hotel
where Means was registered in El Paso,
Tex. Mrs. Mclean went there to meet
be delivered, she says.
Meanwhile Government investigators
were making wide search for the
100000 which Mrs. Mclean asserts
Means took from her in an allegedly
fake plan to secure return of the Lind
bergh child.
Means Chevy Chase home was ran
sacked Friday evening in a futile hunt
for the money, and the quest yester-
day was extended to North and South
Carolina-scene of some of the ne
gotiations.
An inquiry of local banks yesterday
failed to reveal any safety deposit
boxes registered in the name of Means
Investigators are said to lean toward
the belief that the money is buried
probably far from Washington. Ridi-
culing Means story of having turned
it over to NO. IL" a man claiming
to be a representative of Mrs. Mclean,
officials charge that Means has secreted
the money.
Boyd Report Recalled.
In this connection it was recalled
here yesterday that Means is reputed
to have buried in Trinity Church yard,
New York City, Sl000,000 entrusted
to him for hiding by Capt. Boy-Ed,
notorious German agent.
Authority to dig up portions OF the
yard at the Means home, 1l2 Leland
street, Chevy Chase, Md, may be sought.
Over the protestations of Mrs. Means.
agents of the Bureau of Investigation
made a thorough search of the house
ana also partly destroyed a small play
house which Means was building, sup
posedly for his son. The play house
aroused suspicion of the officers because
Of the knowledge that Means had done
much of the construction with his own
hands. The building had barred win
dows.
The agents located an old safe and
opened it, but it proved empty. 1t was
in a trunk Unable to open the steel
door Of the safe, the officers sent for
a safe expert, who also failed TO open
it, due to its ancient manufacture. The
agents then pried of the hinges, only
to find the safe empty.
Means insists he was in touch with
the kidnapers. He appears to have
dropped efforts to make bond of $780,
900 prior to the grand jury's report
Tuesday. He expects he will be in
dicted, pointing out the grand jury
heard only one side of the story Fri
day. when Mrs Mclean, her attorney,
Nelson T. Harrison, and her butler,
Gustav Griffoni, testified.
Means conferred at length yesterday
in Jail with his attorney, j. william
Tomlinson. He is permitted to talk
with no one but his attorney and his
wife.
While the bond was fixed at 100000,
United States Attorney Rover will re-
uuire Means to produce four bondSmen,
each willing to stand for the entire
amount