The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1932-11-29
kIDNAP HUNT
FOR Child At
BLANK WALL
200-Pound AbduCtor Steals
Girl, d, From Grand
parents Home.
GETS VICTIM BY RUSE
Gun Drawn to Make Escape
From Farm Near
Rensselaer,.
BgInifcd Press

uy 1 NttCU FfGNS
RENSSELAER,, Ind, Nov. 3D.
Searcsh for a blond, blue-eyed A.
year-old girl kidnapped from her
grandparents farm near here
spread over northern Indiana to-
day, but authorities faced a virtual
blank wall as they hunted for
cleWs.
They sought a fed-faced, heavily
built man, who abducted Patricia
Pearl Trip after entering the home
of her grandmother and guardian,
Mrs. Hamlin Smith, on a ruSe.
Leo by Sherin Tone Kanne and
state police, officers started Tor
Porter county to question relatives
with whom the Smith family con-
tested custody of the girl, and for
Gary and Chicago.
The kidnaper fed northward in
an automobile bearing no license
plates. 1t was believed, however,
that short distance from the
Smith home the child was trans
ferred to another machine.
Composed and confident that no
harm will come to the girl, Mrs.
Smith related to authorities this
morning details of the kidnapping.
Describes 2OO-Pound Kidnaper
She described her granddaughter
as weighing 81 pounds, feet 8
inches tall, pronounced blond with
blue eyes. When abducted she was
wearing a print dress, stockings and
slippers.
Mrs. Smith described the kid
naper as tall weighing probably 200
pounds, with bloodshot eyes and a
Swarthy complexion. He spoke
broken English, she said, and han
died the child roughly as he placed
her in his auto and sped away.
The kidnaper came to the home
and forced his way in on the pre-
text of wanting eggs, Mrs. Smith
said.
Apparently he knew we always
keep the front door and screen
locked. as he came straight to the
rear door" she related. He ap-
preached from the west and left the
front door of his auto open"
Asks f@ Eggs for Child
First he asked for dozen eggs
''for my baby who is in a sana-
torium," Mrs. Smith said. Il OBJ
tanned the dozen eggs, and then he
asked for more. I became sus-
picious of his actions at once.
L told him there were a dozen
eggs in the house and others in the
barn. He insisted that 1 go to the
barn for more, but was afraid to
leave the house."
The stranger watched Patricia
Pearl playing with Mrs. Smiths own
daughter, the grandmother said.
He picked her up and talked with
her, apparently aware which was
the grandchild, and which was Mrs.
Smiths daughter
AbductOr Draws Revolver
Il pulled out the sewing machine
and kept Patricia behind it and me-
Mrs. Smith said. THE man went
to the front door and unlocked both
it and the screen. Then he came
back to pay me for the eggs.
AS he handed me the money, he
snatched at the baby. I followed
him as he ran from the house, and
my daughter ran to a cornfield to
tell my husband"
The kidnaper jerked a revolver
from his leather jacket and ordered
Mrs. Smith to get back" she said.
AS he leaped into the front seat
Of the car she clutched at the child,
who was screaming wildly.
At first she believed she had
broken its arm as the auto lurched
forward, but today she decided she
had caused it no injury.
No Position to Pay Ransom
Sheriff Kanne this morning went
to the home of August johnson. in
Porter county, who carried through
the Indiana supreme court losing
fight to retain custody of the baby
after<its parents died. Kanne said
johnson professed to knowledge of
the affair.
The Smiths are tenants on the
160-acre farm southwest Of Rensse-
laer. Neighbors say they would be
in no position to pay a ransom.
State patrolman Allen Fendig of
Wheatield was ordered here to aid
Kanne, who summoned all available
deputies. lieutenant Walter j.
Wilson fthe state police, also was
sent to join the search.