Evening star., 1933-01-12
ALLEGED PLOTTER
TRAPPED BY WIRES
U. S. Agents. Rig Up Electrical
Device to FruStrate Threats
Againt Reynolds Child.
BY REX COLLIER.

How special agents of the United
States Bureau of Investigation, con-
fronted with series of notes and news
paper advertisements strikingly remi-
niscent of the Lindbergh kidnapping.
frustrated the threatened kidnapping and
mutilation Of 2-year-old daughter of
the late Smith Reynolds and captured
the alleged extortionists in an intricate
electrical trap, was revealed here today.
The trap, rigged up under cover of
night in vacant house near Atlanta,
Ga, resulted in the arrest Tuesday eve
ming of Odell BoyleS, parachute stunt
man, transformer and eX-convict. and
his wife. both of whom are being held,
pending charges, under the new Federal
kidnapping act.
Just before the trap--an electrical
alarm device-was sprung, Joseph F.
Cannon, wealthy textile manufacturer
OF Concord, N. c., had received new
demand for $4,000 with threat that
unless payment was made at once the
sum would be raised to $4,000, Can
mons own son as well as the Reynolds
child would be kidnapped and that a
foot or arm of each would be sent back
as warning. Cannon's daughter, Mrs.
Ann Reynolds Smith, is the mother of
the Reynolds child. Ann, having been
the first wife of Smith Reynolds.
Made Full Confession.
Boyles, it was said at the Bureau Of
Investigation, has made a complete
confession, III which he attempted to
found on one of the threatening letters
matches that of the right index finger
of BoyleS, the bureau said.
The anna rattIg Serratlv arronoad hy
the Federal agents to ensnare the
would-be kidnapers included hidden
spring on a china closet, which set
off an alarm in a nearby house when
a package, presumably containing the
$4,000, was lifted; a dictaphone in the
same room and foodlights with which
the grounds could be Illuminated sud-
denly at night.
Two houses nearby contained speci~ |!
agents and police, and for two da. S
prior to the capture other Federal op-
eratives watched the vacant house from
an automobile secreted in a garage.
The paraphernalia was installed in
house designated by the extortionistS
after Mr. Cannon had appealed to the
Bureau of Investigation on December 8.
He turned over letters from a gang
calling itself The Four Musketeers"
and which contained threats to kidnap
Joseph Cannon, jr., and the Reynolds
daughter, and to blow up the Cannon
home.
A letter received just before Christ
mas informed Cannon the negotiations
had fallen through, but would be re-
sumed after Christmas.
Resumed Negotiations.
1--WE are celebrating the holidays, so
do not let this mar your Christmas"
the letter said I'VE wish you a merry
Christmas and many happy returns of
the New Year" 1t was signed, -Four
Musketeers." The letter also directed
Cannon to insert certain ad in the
Atlanta papers after the holidays
The ad was placed, and on Thursday
week ago letter acknowledged the
ad and instructed Cannon to place a
package containing the money, in bills
Of small denomination, on a china
closet in the dinning room of vacant
house ON Virginia avenue, Hapeville, Ga.
A white cloth was to be attached to
the front screen door to indicate the
money had been deposited.
Working with such secrecy at night
that the negotiators did not suspect the
trap being set for them, Federal agents
under E. E. Conroy. who gained fame
for his capture OF the deAutremont
brothers. train dynamiters, some years
ago, wired the house with the alarm
mechanism.
A vigil was kept for several days,
during which several persons entered
and left the house without setting off
the alarm fixed under the package in
the dining room. At 4:30 pm. last
Tuesday a woman, later identified as
Mrs. Boyles, entered the house, lifted
the package and started the alarm
ringing. The house was surrounded
Immediately by Federal men who ap-
peared from all directions, some Of them
armed with Sawed-off Shotguns.
Mrs. Boyles at first declared her inno-
cence. Three hours later her husband
was arrested as he walked into his
home. not far from the vacant house.
Oficials said he signed detailed con-
fession when he learned his wife was
being held.