Evening star., 1932-06-28
EX-ATTORNEY HELD
IN MEANS FRAUD
Mrs. Mclean Identifies Nor
man T. Whitaker as 1.-The
Fox" in KIDNAPPING.
Continued From First Page.)

Means in the fraud case. Several other
Government witnesses also verified the
Identification, but their names were
withheld.
A warrant charging Whitaker with
violation of section 81 of the Criminal
Code. the conspiracy clause, was issued
secretly by United States Commissioner
Turnage last Saturday at the request OF
United States Attorney Leo A. Rover.
The warrant was taken to New York
by Federal agents and used as a basis
for issuance there OF a fugitive warrant.
TIE conspiracy clause provides Tor
fine of $4,000. or a sentence OF TWO
wears or BOTH upon conviction. means
was sentenced to IS years on the Iiauo
charges.
O'Neill in New York. on charge OF
conspiracy to commit grand larceny,
Whitaker expressed astonishment when
the commissioner set bail at $l0o, 600.
why. I've read that $4,000 bail was
all Means was asked to put up WHIT
aker said.
put up S5O,000," replied the commits
sioner.
Whitaker admitted he was unable to
provide bond, and said it made no dill
ference to him whether S50,000 SlO0,-
900 or 5000. 900 was the amount ordered.
He said he might decide before pm.
tomorrow. the time set for hearlng,
to waive removal proceedings and go 10
Washington.
Disbarred BY Office.
Whitaker gave his age as AZ years
and his occupation as patents ana
trademarks" At the Patent Office to-
day it was said he is not registered as
an authorized practitioner before that
office. having been disbarred IN l9zo.
At that time he was serving time III
Leavenworth Penitentiary.
THE Fox" skunk in and out OF the
Means negotiations at frequent inter
walls and amid great mystery. DeSig-
mated by Means as mo. 10" under the
fantastic signal code devised by the sci
STYLED kidnapping intermediary, Inc
Fox" appeared at Mrs McLean's nome
at Aiken in a meeting designed to re-
suit in delivery of the Lindbergh BABY
to Mrs. Mclean. He didn't produce the
child as promised, but told a colorful
story of having been followed from
washington by four automobiles bear
ing machine guns. He expressed fear
of being spied upon and, Mrs. Mclean
testified, exercised great care not to
touch anything in the room, although
he was wearing goves that could have
left no fingerprintS. He is said to have
searched every room in the Mclean
cottage before opening the conversation.
Said He Held Baby.
Mrs. Mclean said The Fox told OF
having held the LindbeTgh baby in his
arms and said 1t was in good health
and would be returned to her at El Paso,
Tex. She was shown a street at both
ends of which, THE Fox" asserted, were
stationed machine guns that would be
turned loose on her if she double
crossed him.
Later Mrs Mclean journeyed to El
Paso as directed. but again failed to re-
ceive the baby. THE Fox explained to
her there that complications had arisen
that prevented immediate return Of the
child.
Apparently the Lindbergh child was
dead during the time Of these nego-
tiations
Justice agents first struck the trail
of Whitaker during Investigations OF
the meetings at Ell Paso and Aiken. He
was under definite suspicion before
Means went to trial. Recently the net
Of evidence became stronger and
Whitaker, located in Brooklyn, was
placed under surveillance. He was
living at the Brooklyn home of his wife
and father-in-law.
Taken to New York police headquar-
tiers last night, Whitaker was question
ed by Federal agents and New York
police.
Denies Getting Money.
How much Of the 100000 did you
get?" he was asked by Assistant Chief
John j. Sullivan, according to the AS
sociated Press.
Il got none Of 1t, but I wish had"
he replied.
Were you double -crossed?"
Whitaker smiled for an answer
How long have you known Means?"
Il never admitted knowing Means"
he said. Il don't care to make state
ment I want a lawyer"
But you are lawyer" the inspector
said
Il was lawyer, but I was disbarred,"
Whitaker replied.
Whitaker said he worked on inven-
tion. patents and trademarks" and
when pressed for particulars explained
he was at work on method to sound
proof the interior of automobiles.
Urged to make clean breast" of his
connection with Means and the Lind
bergh case, the prisoner said he would
as soon as he got n lawyer
Means. when apprised at the Jail to-
day Of the arrest of Whitaker said he
did not know him and had no further
comment to make.
May Face Another Charge.
1t is understood that when Whitaker
is returned here he may have an addi-
tional fraud charge placed against him
as an outgrowth of his alleged effort
to obtain $685. 900 from Mrs. Mclean on
the ground the kidnapers had been
duped bv Lindbergh in the $4,000 ran
som deal with DR.. John F. Condor, 9TH
erwise known as "Jafsie."
According to Mrs. Mclean, THE Fox"
expressed keen resentment over the fact
Lindbergh had rendered $4,000 of the
money useless by recording the serial
numbers of the bill. She was advised
that the gang had disposed of $1,000
before the hunt for the bills was in
stituted.
THE Fox" it was related. told Mrs.
Mclean he would not return the baby
until the hot money" had been re-
deemed, and said ne would accept
S35 900 for that purpose
Mrs Mclean had made arrangements
to pawn some of her jewels to raise the
additional sum, when her attorneys
learned for the first time of her nego-
tiations with Means. The case then
was turned over to the Department OF
Justice for investigation.