Imperial Valley press., 1933-02-06
AGED WOMAN
ABDUCTED BY
K|DNAP GANG
Wife OF Music Professor AT
U. S. c. Lured From Home
By Cruel Hoax.
POLICE HAVE FEW CLUES
Victim Informed Husband At
Hospital Following Accident
On Road.

LOS ANGELES, Feb. 6. W.P)-A
two-page typewriter letter threat
ening immediate death as the price
of police aid was the only clue au-
thorities had today as they sought
the kidnapers of Mrs. Mary
Skeele, elderly wife of the dean of
music at the University of South
ern California.
In addition to forbidding police
intervention, the note demanded
$4,000 ransom, which the family
said could not be met.
According to police, Mrs. Skeele,
who is IS, was kidnapped last
night after receiving fake acci-
dent call on the telephone. She
was at home alone.
A mans voice advised her her
husband, DR.. Walter Skeele, had
been seriously injured in a traffic
accident. The. man directed her to
remain at home and a car would
be sent to take her to the hospital.
Mrs. Skeele Immediately called
her married son, Franklin, an ad-
vertising executive. Young Skeele
promised her he would go to the
hospital Immediately. She sudden
ly said:
"a car has just pulled up in
front of the house and somebody's
knocking on the door, ! think it's
the car they said they'd send for
me-"
She locked the house and then
vanished. No one saw her enter
the machine as far as police could
learn.
At the time, her husband was
playing an organ at a nearby
church.
Police were convinced her dis
appearance represented the handi-
work of a well organized kidnap
gang.
They centered their investiga-
tion around the lengthy ransom
note.
One part threatened to "do away
with her Immediately" If police
were summoned.
Another passage read
"It will be too bad for Mrs.
Skeele if we don't get the $4,000
Immediately"
Police refused to disclose the en-
tire contents.
Note Found On Door
The note was found pinned to
front screen door by Mr.. Skeele
and his soE, Franklin The latter
after receiving his mothers tele-
phone call hurried to the hospital.
He found that his father was not
patient and that his mother had
not appeared.
Going to his parents house, he
found it dark. After a search, he
located his father. The two re-
turned home and found the note.
They summoned police. A wide
search was made in the modest
neighborhood where the elderly
Skeeles reside alone. But police
found no one who had heard
disturbance.
The younger Skeele. who is ad-
vertising manager of the Los An
geles Illustrated Daily News, said
it would be impossible to raise the
money Immediately as the kidnap-
ers demanded. Neither he nor po-
lice would comment on whether
the letter appointed a meeting place
or any other instructions for pay
ment of the money.
1t was learned that the lengthy
missive was interspersed with words
clipped from newspapers and mag
azines. Police were checking to as
certain from what publications they
were cut.
The Skeeles have lived in the
same house for 13 years. Investi-
gators were convinced the abduc-
tors had studied the family's move
ments carefully for some time and
knew that DR.. Skeele was absent
on Sunday nights when he played
the organ at church. Mrs Skeele
usually stayed at home alone.
DR.. Skeele has been associated
with the University of Southern
California of Music for 35 years.
A-~kL. RIr~1