Evening star., 1932-03-02
FEDERAL AGENTS
.. AID IS OFFERED
Congress Ready to Push Bill
+ to Make kidnapping Cap
itaI Crime.
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Continued From First Page.)
sey authorities. ConnelIey is well
known here for his participation in the
investigation several years ago of the
sensational Virginia Mcpherson stran-
Cling case. He directed the eXhuTa-
tion of the body of Mrs. Mcpherson
and had charge of other phases of the
inquiry.
Il tod Connelley," Hoover said, ito
Cooperate to the fullest with Col H
Norman Schwartzkopf, head of New
Jersey State police. I also called Col.
Schwartzkopf by long distance and ad
vised him that We would be glad to ex-
tend every possible assistance in run
ming down the kidnapers of the Lind
bergh baby"
Later Hoover called Rhea Whitley,
chief of the Philadelphia Office of the
Investigation Bureau, and gave him in
structions similar to those he tele-
phoned to Connelley. Between the two
Offices. the States of New York, Penn
sylvania, Delaware, New Jersey and
Connecticut arc covered by Justice De-
p2rtment operatives.
Whether any men have been assigned
to the case by Connellcy is not known.
Hoover said it was left to the discretion
of Connelley and Whitley to assign
men and he assumed that as many men
as necessary would be detailed to the
case.
May Call in Others.
"If they haven't enough men in New
York, we have other Offices throughout
the country" said Hoover. And in
that way believe we can be of material
assistance in tracking down the kid
napers. Where State authorities are
confronted with State boundaries and
problems Of witnesses, we. on the other
hand, have a free hand"
The Investigation Bureau chief dis
closed, however, that there is no Fed
eral statute under which the depart
ment's operatives can work on the case,
but that his Office had stepped in in
the hope and belief that the kidnaperS
may be wanted for violation of some
Federal law or laws"
But with passage of legislation by
the Congress making kidnapping a Fed
eral offense we will be able to assign
men to every case where there is sus-
picion that the kidnapers are working
between States"
Plan Close Watch.
Attorney General Mitchell also point
ed out that thus far there is no in
dication the Lindbergh case is within
Federal jurisdiction. He said the de-
partment plans to keep close watch
upon developments ION the chance that
the perpetrators of this crime in this or
some other activity may have touched
Federal authority"
Every official of the Department of
Justice has the DEEPEST anxiety that the
child be restored to its parents" said
the Attorney General
Every agency of the department will
cooperate to the utmost with State
authorities"
The President himself had no COM
ment. There were indications, how
ever, that he is keeping in close touch
with developments.
Attorney General Mitchell, at the
same time, added the weight of his
opinion to those in favor Of passage of
legislation placing kidnapping within the
jurisdiction Of Federal authorities.
House Committee Stirred.
There are bills pending in Congress
to make transportation of kidnapped per-
sons across State lines a Federal Of
fense. Because Of budget limitations
and recent reductions in appropriations
for the detective forces of the depart
ment, have not felt able to recommend
such legislation, but have no objec-
ton to such a measure If Congress de-
sires to pass it,
At the House Judiciary Committee
hearings last week a handful of veteran
Congressmen were stirred to a pitch of
determined indignation after hearing a
terrible tale of kidnapping and torture
for ransom, operated wholesale in the
Midwest by an alleged ring working in
many cities, spiriting victims from city
to city to place the barrier of State
lines between the criminals and the
law
Hardened to moving pleas, slow to
encroach upon jurisdiction of the States,
these men-members of the committee
are out for Federal law with teeth"
enough to promise the electric chair to
the kidnaper it catches, such bill as
that of Representative Cochran.
1T is war!" pronounced Chairman
Summers after Robert I. Randolph,
head Of Chicago's famous Secret Six"
anti-gangster unit, and a group in
cluding both Chicago and st. Louis
professional and volunteer crime fight
ers, had told their story.
Story Kept From Public.
1t Was stolid recital, delivered in
clipped, Unconditional sentences, of in
stance upon instance of skillful, nerve
racking torture of children, mothers
business men, by criminal bands clever
enough to battle and stall the most de-
termined efforts of local authorities to
apprehend them.
Part of the story the public has not
heard, for the committee closed its
dNnrc uhnp nofoNtiUa 7
Steffens, ace of the Secret Six" inves-
tigators, started to tell his part.
The racket" these men indicated,
Is being run by ex-bank robbers, who
have found 1t an easier way to cash
in on crime, who are fiendishly ingenious
in devising torture to make the victims
and relatives come across"
There have been two barriers to
enactment Of q, Federal anti-kidnaping
law-economy and States rights. At
torney General Mitchell raised the first
objection, holding adequate enforce
ment of 1t impossible on the present
pinched budget. The second so far has
been cause OF hesitation in Congress.
Even Chairman Summers and others
favorable to the law do not want the
States to leave it to Uncle Sam" But
bill providing the death penalty for
abduction across the State lines is vir-
tually certain TO be recommended by
them.
The Lindbergh kidnapping should 90
q long way to insuring its passage by
Congress.
Favors Death Penalty.
Summers said he was not going to
be panicked" because Of the KIDNAPPING
of the Lindbergh child. but expressed
himself strongly as favoring the death
penalty for the crime of kidnapping.
He said he has scheduled for early
action the Cochran bill and would take
1t up today, if possible
Fired by the news of the kidnapping,
the House Post Office Committee today