Evening star., 1933-10-19
President Sanctions Move as
Lone Agent on Case
Is Withdrawn.
INVESTIGATOR WILSON
WAS IN REVENUE POST
Director Hoover of Justice Depart
ment to Assume Charge of Gov
ernment Activities in Case.
BY REX COLLIER.

the 2O-month-old Lindbergh case il
cooperation with New jersey Stat'
police.
The move, sanctioned by Presiden
Roosevelt in his desire to consolidate
all kidnapping Investigations under tn
Justice Department, was prompted o.
the disclosure that the Government!
lone representative in the Sourlant
Mountain mystery has been an lnVestl
gator of the Internal Revenue Bureau
This agent, Frank Wilson, of Capon
income tax investigation fame, wa
withdrawn from the case this week D.
Elmer L. Trey, chief of the 1nterna
Revenue Bureaus intelligence unit
Trey said today Wilson has returned Il
his former tax duties with the unit!
field Office in Baltimore. He refused x
discuss the matter further, but it wa
learned Wilson'S withdrawal had Whit
House approval.
Hoover Given Charge.
At the same time Attorney Genera
Cummings, after conferences with TN
President ordered j. Edgar Hoover. dl
rector of the Justice Departments di
vision of investigation, to assume Jurls
diction over Federal activities in tn
Lindbergh case, with view to glVlni
New Jersey authorities full beneflt o
data on known kidnapers amassed b.
the division since passage OF the Fedora
kidnapping law.
Attorney General Cummings explained
today that the shift in investlgatlv'
Jurisdiction was made solely because j
was thought concentration OF all KID
naping cases under the division of in
vestigation was logical and would maxi
for better efficiency,
70 hou Hirno
in general investigated by this depart
ment. but to have the Lindbergh cas-
left out by ITSELF" he said.
He asserted the change could not b.
construed as a reflection on the worl
done by the Internal Revenue Bureau.
Justice investigators offered theil
services at Hopewell during early phases
of the Iindbergh tragedy, along witt
other Federal officers of the various de-
partments. but they withdrew from TIT
case many months ago. The held O.
Federal activity was left free to two O
Irey's men, Wilson and A. P. Maooen
both of whom went to Hopewell few
DAYS after the abduction, at a time
when it was thought AL Capone knew
something about the crime.
Madden was sent back to his regulal
post in Chicago several months ago, Du
wilson. lace" of Irey's staff, remained
to devote all his time to running doWI
elusive clues in cooperation with Col
H. Norman Schwartzkopf, head OF TIT
Jersey State police.
High Government officials empna
sized today that in taking Wilson OF
the case no criticism of his work L
implied. 1t was stated the change II
. investigative supervision was Out
Chiefly to two things
l. The advisability, in the interest!
of general efficiency, OF Vestlng eXclu'
sive Jurisdiction in kidnapping cases II
the Division of Investigation, which |!
administering the so-called "Lindbergh
kidnapping act and which has mac
marked success in solving Is maJol
kidnapings occurring since enactmen
of the Federal kidnapping law.
Q The urgent demand for Wilson:
services in connection with important
income tax inquiries now being under
taken by the Internal Revenue Bureau
It is known the President and hi
ATTORNEY General are determined tt
render the New Jersey authorities ever!
possible facility of the Federal Govern
ment in the attempt to solve the baffhnt
abduction and murder OF Charles Au
gustus Lindbergh, jr.
Possibility that some OF the ma1o
kidnapings perpetrated since the steal
ing of Baby Lindbergh from his nur
sery on Sourland Mountain on th'
night of March /. 1882 may have beer
the work of criminals having knowledge
of the Hopewer outrage has been sug
gested repeatedly.
Way for Check Open.
So far, however, there has been NJ
thorough comparison of data in othel
kidnapings with known facts guarded
jealously by State police in the Lind
bergh case. The way now is opened
for a comprehensive check along thes'
lines, it was pointed out.
Director Hoover was designated to co
ordinate Federal activities in the Lind
bergh case by former President Hoover
who, upon discovery of the dead bod
of the baby near Hopewell on May Il
1892 admonished Federal agencies IT
make the kidnapping and murder of tn
Lindbergh baby live and nerver-to-be
forgotten case"
Actually, the Lindbergh crime did no
p constitute a violation of any Fedora
law. and the offer of Federal assistanc
was an unprecedented move inspired b.
the Governments desire to aid one Q
its distinguished citizens in the darl
hours of tragedy Also, the crime wa
regarded as a challenge to law enforce
ment that Uncle Sam could not wel
ignore.
A number of Justice investigator
were assigned to offer aid to Jerse
police early in the case, but it IS sal
little use was made of their services b
the State authorities. Finally a.
agents of the Division of Investigation
were withdrawn, leaving only Wilson o.
the scene.
wilson. Madden and Trey took
nrorninent part in the early phases Q
the Investigation. The trio is reporte
to have been "on the inside" of tn
arrangements made by Col Lindberg
for payment of the $4,000 ransor
through "Jafsie," otherwise DR.. Joh
F. Condor. At Lindbergh's reques
however, they remained away from tn
cemetery where the futile payment wa
made by Condor to shadowy flgur
who spoke with Teutonic accent.
Lindbergh, accompanied by co
Henry Breckenridge and DR.. Condor
picked Trey up after leaving the ceme
tery. showed him the note, signed wit
an identifying symbol and purportin
to give directions for finding the bah
aboard a yacht, the Nellie and too
Irey with him on the heart-breakin
airplane search for the phantom shi
off Cuttyhunk, Mass.
Irey was prepared to question an
one found aboard the yacht, If it wa
located.
None knew it was a cruel hoax an
that the remains of the kidnapped bab
It that moment were wasting away
the brush of a Jersey roadside, within
sight of the Hopewell house of TRACED.