Evening star., 1933-05-03


BY the Associated Press.
HARWICHPORT, Mass, May 3.-Neil
G. McMath, in a hurriedly called press
conference this afternoon, announced
that he "can and will' raise any rea-
sonable sum demanded by the kidnapers
for the return Of his 1o-year-old daugh-
ter, Margaret McMath. who was lured
from her school yesterday.
In the meantime police continued to
observe a truce to keep the McMath
estate clear of any obstacles to the
kidnapers or any attempt on their part
to make contact with the child's
parents.
McMath said he was willing to meet
the kfdnapers at any spot they might
designate. that he would 60 alone and
would not inform police of any such
engagement. He imposed only one con-
ditiop. That was that the child must
be turned over to him when he pays the
money.
IT can and will raise any reasonable
amount they may ask" he said.
"Win Do Anything"
He did not say that he had received
any demand yet or that he had had
any contact, direct or indirect, with the
men who spirited the child away.
He was asked whether he would con-
slider employing any underworld char
acters to assist, and replied that he
would do almost anything to get my
child back" He said his house had not
been under guard and that 1t would
not be guarded tonight or any other
night.
The stolen girl Is the grandchild of
two prominent Detroit men, William r.
Kales, president of large structural
steel corporation, and Francis c. Nc
Math, engineer, banker and Industrial
ist. Her father, however, has been
working in small marine railway and
bodybuilding establishment here re-
Gently and is not regarded as personally
wealthy.
He expressed a fear that false i'm
pressionS of his own wealth might lead
ktdnapers to make impossible demands
for ransom.
At his request the police had cleared
the grounds about the McMath home
so that the captors Of the child might
seek contact with the parents without
interference, and State Detective Ernest
Bradford had consented to a 48-hour
delay on the part of the police before
any active effort should be launched.
Several Leads Reported.
Before going to the McMath home
Bradford said several "leads" had been
reported, but none had been found OF
any consequence. He was reticent In
talking with newspaper men and said:
II don't want this case tried in ths
newspapers, as the Lindbergh case was. >
Twelve State police and six polio.
cruising cars and eight local polict
| were engaged in the Investigation today
The State Police were under the com.
mand of Lieut. James Hughes, who sale
that no plan Of action had been mapped
out.
The various police officials said they
were willing to cooperate In every
way and that If McMath maintained
his attitude they wished to give the
kidnapers every opportunity to get ir
contact with the parents Of the stolen
girl without interference.
Heard Muff1ed Cries.
The search of the Central Massachu-
sets highways was inspired by a report
from Charles M. Harrison Of Boston
Harrison said that while he was en-
route to Boston he passed an automo-
bile answering in some respects q de-
Scription of the kidnaperS' car, and that
he was attracted by the sounds of muf-
fed screams from the inside. This, he
said, was about 8 I'M, the incident oc-
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