Evening star., 1933-05-29
GIRL s K|DNAPERS
OBJECT Of SEARCH
$4,000 Ransom Paid by
City Manager of Kansas
City for Daughter.
By the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
KANSAS CITY, Mo, May 29.-The
kidnapers of Mary McElroy who was
freed yesterday after payment of $4,000
ransom, were sought today by postal
inspectors, Department of Justice
agents and virtually entire police forces
of Kansas City and Kansas City, Kans.
The first objective was to locate the
house in the basement of which the
25-year-old daughter of H. F. McElroy,
city manager, was held captive for 20
hours. Authorities believed the house is
in Wyandotte County. Kans.
The law enforcement agencies OF the
Federal Government were enlisted
through the Office of w. L. Vandeventer,
district attorney, who pointed out that
two Federal statutes had been vio-
lated, the use Of the mails in the kid
naping and the interstate transporta-
ton of a kidnapped person.
Prosecute Under Missouri Laws.
If the men are captured, however,
prosecution probably will be under the
Missouri law, which makes kidnapping
a capital offense.
Thomas ]. Higgins, chief of detectives,
said he had asked police in another
city to arrest a man in connection with
the abduction. He declined to designate
the city or disclose the name of the
man. 1t was merely clue that was
being run down, he said. Three men
we're released today after questioning
by the police last night.
Il have told the police to put in
"a hours a day on this case" the city
manager said. while my daughter was
in their hands I had but one thought.
and that was to get her back. Now
she is back, and there will be no let
H. q = I1n,. f-tl
napers."
Probably Four or Five.
Chief Higgins said the number in the !
gang had not been determined, but was
probably four or five.
Miss McElroy disclosed that she de-
clined a chicken dinner yesterday, |
much to the surprise of her captors.
Il would prefer lettuce and tomato |
sandwich she told one of the kid |
napers.
L can't picture you down here eat
ing a sandwich and us upstairs eating !
a chicken dinner" he commented, but |
all right, If that's what you want. But |
I'll say you're one girl in million"
Crying proudly, Il didn't break. |
didn't break" and wearing on her dress |
two roses given her by her abductors, |
Miss McElroy was released at the en- |
trance to the Milburn Golf Club short |
ly before 4 pm. Sunday. Her release |
came an hour and half after Mr. Nc |
Elroy and his son, H. F. McElroy, jr., |
had met the kidnapers at an isolated !
point on country road west of Kan
Sas City, KanS., and delivered to them |
$4,000 in currency.
The young woman was taken from
the family home in the fashionable !
country club district of Kansas City
about IL O'Clock Saturday morning by |
two men who, showing weapons, forced !
the housekeeper to admit them. Miss
McElroy was in her bath. They COM
PEELED her to dress quickly.
After hours of anxious waiting, the
city manager received a series of letters
and telephone calls demanding 100000
ransom and instructing him where to
pay 1t. Mr.. McElroy pleaded he was
telephone conversation yesterday after |
noon the girls abductors agreed to ac-
cept half that amount.
Friends Give Help.
McElroy, who had obtained s25.ooO
OF the money in bills Of small denom-
ination and five $1,000 bills. with the
aid of friends who offered their cash
resources, because banks were closed
when the kidnaperS made known their
demands, was met by two masked men
at rendezvous they named. Several
other men were in the kidnapers' car,
three or four" said the city mana
gers son, who accompanied his ia
ther.
Miss McElroy's release followed.
At her home the blue-eyed, brown
haired girl related calmly the details
OF her experience. She said she was
kept prisoner in a basement room of
house, the location of which was un-
known to her. A lap robe was thrown
over her head as she was taken from
her home; she was blindfolded on her |
release trip
Her captors treated her with every |
consideration, she said, the only in |
convenience being a handcuff placed on |
her left wrist and then fastened to a |
chain in the wall
Offered to Recommend Her.
Most Of the 20 hours of Miss Nc |
ElroyS captivity was spent in a room, |
which she described as containing a |
clean bed and comfortable chairs. She |
was given detective story magazines to |
read, the men conversed with her and |
exchanged many jests. She said the !
men complimented her on her conduct |
as captive and offered to recon- |
mend" her to other would-be kidnap- |
erS as wel1-behaVed victim.
The city managers intense affection |
Tor his two children often has been re- |
marked by his associates Mrs. Nc |
Elroy died % years ago, and he did |
not remarry.