Evening star., 1934-10-20

P).-Thomas H. Robinson, Jr., his
father and his wife we're indicted
in Federal Court here today in
connection with kidnapping Mrs.
Alice Speed Stoll.
BY the Associated Press.
LOUISVILLE, KY, October 90
The Government sought indictments
today against Thomas H. Robinson,
jr., former insane asylum inmate, and
his wife and father, relying largely
upon Mrs. Alice Speed Stoll's maid
to tell of the kidnapping. United States
District Attorney Thomas j. Sparks
said it would not be necessary to call
Mrs. Stoll
The death penalty is possible upon
conviction under the amended Lind
bergh kidnapping law, provided the
Government can prove its claim that
Mrs. Stoll was injured. The Federal
warrants charged she was slugged.
AS the grand jurors assembled for
the special session the parents of
young Mrs. Robinson announced
through counsel that they would rely
upon Frederick NJ Sackett, former
United States Senator and former AM
bassador to Germany, to clear her of
completely in the sensational case.
ACTED for Sackett"
She acted under his personal su-
pervision and direction and We expect
this man of honor to do his duty" was
the statement made by Charles En-
bry, who with Jack Norman, another
attorney, arrived with Mr. and Mrs
N. L. Althauser from Nashville They
came to confer with Glen W. Higgins,
local attorney for Mrs. Robinson
Embry said that Sackett, after a
conference with State officials in
Nashville, had insisted that Mrs. Rob-
inson carry to Indianapolis the
$4,000 in cash that had been shipped
by railway express to Nashville by
the Stolls and which the kidnaper
had feared to call for. She car
ried the money and after her huS-
band took it and fed she accompanied
Mrs. Stoll to Louisville.
Ann Woolet, the Stolls' maid, who
told of the kidnaper slugging Mrs
Stoll before taking her away, and
whom Berry V. Stoll, the husband
found pound to chair in the Stoll
home, was called by the district at
torney to establish the presence of
the kidnaper in the house. He said
others would testify Mrs. Stoll was
taken to Indiana Some eight or 10
witnesses were called for in all.
Young Robinson apparently had
escaped the net Federal officers set for
him. Clues from half dozen States
led only to blind alleys Federal agents
in California we're informed the elusive
ki6naper was on his way to board
ship at Los Angeles or San Francisco.
40 Agents Work on Case.
At least 40 Federal agents are known
to have worked intensively since the
kidnapping October 10, digging up evi-
dence in the case. Telephone wires
have been tapped. Letters written by
the kidnaper have been analyzed. The
ransom note, bearing fingerprints
identified as those of young Robinson,
and $500 of the ransom money taken
from Mrs. Robinson are among the
links the Government is forging into
its chain.of evidence.
The case against Mrs. Robinson and
her father-in-law is expected to turn
on whether they took part in plot
to share in the $4,000 ransom paid
for Mrs. Stoll's release. Both say their
actions were pointed toward saving
Mrs. Stoll's life, Mrs. Robinson eX-
planned the $500 she had was given
her by her husband for expenses, and
that she was keeping it for Mrs. Stoll.
Melvin H. Purvis, Department of
Justice agent who set the successful
trap for John Dillinger, was in Gin
cinnati directing the hunt for Robin
son. A car believed to be that of
the fugitive roared toward Philadel-
phia yesterday at 10 miles an hour.
and outdistanced pursuit. A hitch
hiker reported at Kane. Pa, that he
had ridden With motorist he thought
was Robinson. New York State police
watched for him north of Kane.
No definite trail of the fugitive was
discovered by means Of ransom bills.
Federal agents explained that two
numbers were needed to identify each
bill. A new list was being prepared.