Evening star., 1932-05-05
Rover to Demand $780, 900
Bond to Effect Release of
Former Investigator for U.
S. Department of Justice.
CHARGED WITH CLAIMING
CONTACT WITH KIDNAPERS
Author of Harding Expose Is
Taken Before Commissioner Tur-
mage After Being Arrested in
. District in Order to 0bviate Ex-
tradition Proceedings.

CASTOR B. Means, former De-
partment of Justice operative
during the Harding adminiStra-
ton, was arrested today under
United States commissioners war
rant on a charge of larceny after
trust in connection with 100000
paid him by Mrs. Evalyn Walsh
Mclean, wife of a Washington
publisher, to produce the kid
naped son of Charles A. Lind
bergh, noted aviator.
Means was taken to the Depart
ment of Justice, where he is be-
ing questioned by ]. Edgar Hoo
yer of the Bureau of Investiga-
ton.
He later will be taken before U.
S. Commissioner Needham Turn
age, where U. S. Attorney Leo a.
Rover will ask that he be required
to post a bond of 100000.
According to Rover, the war
rant charges that Means shortly
MISREPRESENTATION of the child
represented to Mrs. Mclean that
he was in contact with the alb
ductors and received the sum OF
100000 from her on his assur-
ance that he could secure the re-
turn of the child.
Means was taken into custody py
special agents. who had lain IN walt
for him on this side Of the DStrlct
line ever since secret issuance OF the
warrant yesterday.
The warrant was sworn to by Gov
eminent investigator, who appeared De-
fore Commissioner Turnage, after con-
ference with Rover.
Means has been under surveillance at
his home, 112 Leland street. CneVy
Chase, Md. The arrest was mace IN
the District of Columbia in oroer 10
obviate extradition proceedings.
The investigation which preceoeo IS.
suance of the warrant was conducted
11nder direction of John M. Keith, spe-
cial agent in charge of the washington
field Office Of the Bureau OF InVestlga-
ton. who acted on orders from j. Edgar
Hoover, director of the bureau.
Secrecy ShrOuds Arrest.
Means arrest was effected with the
greatest precautions for secrecy. Inc
fact the warrant was issued was sup
pressed until the paper had been served.
Means has had a colorful though
hectic career.
He has served two terms of two years
each in Atlanta penitentiary for con-
6piracy to violate the prohibition laws
and for attempted bribery in connection
with operations of the Craeger Glass
Casket Co. He was released from
prison July 19, 1928, after serving an
extra 80 days in lieu Of payment OF Two
fines of $4,000. He took pauper
oath at that time.
After his release he published SEN
sational book, The Strange Death OF
President Harding" purportlng TO be
Harding regime. The book since has
been repudiated by a ghost author,
employed by Means to do the writing
Means first gained notoriety as al
legged confidential agent OF Count Won
Bernstein, German Ambassador, and
Capt. Boy-Ed, Of the German secret
service, prior to Americas entry into
the World War In 1917 this connec-
ton was disclosed during an action
to revoke the license of the Burns De
tective Agency for alleged unethical
practices on the ground that Means,
an employe of the agency, was serving
the German government while the
agency was serving its enemy, the Brit
ish government.
After the United States declared war
on Germany Means at various times
came under surveillance of American
intelligence officers. in view of his re-
Continued on Page 2, Column A.